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Number  71  /  March  1981  /  $1.25  /  UK  60p 


TOURISTS  IN  HOMOLAND:  A  LOOK  AT  THECBC'S  "SHARING  THE  SECRET. 


93 


A  MAGAZINE 


Getting  together  to 
support  ourselves 

Toronto's  Gay  Community 
Appeal  shows  the  way,  and 
throws  a  bash  at  Casa  Loma  to 
celebrate  their  success. 

Let's  get  rude! 

Yes!  —  but  not  to  each  other. 
Ostrom  gives  us  some  new  tips 
on  gay  etiquette  for  the  80s  in 
Beyond  the  Vanderbelt. 

Jane  Rule's  web 

The  lesbian  author  spins  out 
connections  between  art  and 
identity  in  Contract  with  the 
World.  Michael  Lynch  reviews. 

And... 

•  The  Sun  slaps  Calgary's  mayor 

•  Jury  deadlocked  in  PIE  trial 

•  Fear  of  Cruising  —  the  art, 


not  the  movie. 


i 


FEB  S, 
TORONTO: 


I 


SMASH 


UP 


III.' 


GAY  U&H 


Wm*» 


! 


«>* 


JOSEPH  DEANE,  ERNEST  J.  SCHWARZ,  BRIAN  SEWELL 
AND  TORONTO  TRUCK  THEATRE  PRESENT 

"A  shattering  play  of  intense  action"  —  Christopher  Stieet  Magazine 


RICHARD 


MARTIN  SHERMAN 


ALSO  STARRING 


BRENT  CARU 


DIRECTED  BY 


ERNEST  I  SCHWARZ 


"Any  serious  theater-goer  would  find  it  necessary  to  see  BENT."  —  Walter  Kerr,  The  New  York  Times 

"The  most  controversial  and  powerful  play  since  Albee  stuhned  us  with  'Virginia  Woolf." 

.  —  Arthur  Bell,  The  Village  Voice 

PREVIEWS  BEGIN  MARCH  12-15 

OPENING  MARCH  17:  LIMITED  ENGAGEMENT 

BATHURST  STREET  THEATRE 

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BOX  OFFICE  535-0591 

Tickets  at  all  BASS  Outlets  or  phone  BASS  698-2277  and  use  your  VISA  or  Mastercard 


WARNING: 


Nudity  and  sexually  explicit  content 
may  offend  some  theatre  patrons. 


2>l 

3 


•«• 


■     '  If. 


The  liberation  of  homosexuals 
can  only  be  the  work  of 

homosexuals  themselves. " 
-  Kurt  Hiller.  1921  - 


The  Collective 

John  Allec.  Christine  Bearchell.  Rick  Bebout. 

Leo  Casey.  Gerald  Hannon.  Ed  Jackson. 

Stephen  MacDonald.  Tim  McCaskeil.  Ken  Popert. 

Roger  Spalding.  Paul  Trdlope.  Robert  Trow 

Alexander  Wilson 

Design/Art  Direction 
Kirk  Kelly/Rick  Bebout 

The  News 
Gerald  Hannon 

Chris  Bearchell.  Am  Gabel.  Ed  Jackson. 

Peter  Mohns.  Fay  Orr.  Craig  Patterson,  Ken  Popert. 

Roger  Spalding.  Paul  Trollope.  Robert  Trow. 

(Toronto  News  Stall) 

Maurice  Beauheu  (Quebec).  Ron  Dayman  (Montreal). 

David  Garmaise  (Ottawa).  Ric  Langtord  (Victoria). 

Jim  Mendenhall  (Brandon).  Robin  Metcalfe  (Halifax). 

Stuart  Russell  (Montreal).  Paul  Wollaslon  (London) 

International 

Tim  McCaskeil.  Leo  Casey 

Our  Image 

John  Allec.  Stephen  MacDonald.  Alexander  Wilson 

Andy  Fabo.  Martha  Fleming.  John  Fletcher. 

Jeft  James.  Sieve  Johnson.  Jon  Kaplan. 

James  Tennyson 

Features 

Chris  Bearchell.  Rick  Bebout 

Christine  Donald.  Fay  Orr.  Gary  Ostrom.  David  Roche 

Columns 

Paul  Leonard.  Ken  Popert.  Jeft  Richardson. 

Tom  Suddon.  Ian  Young 

Letters/ Community  Page 
Ken  Popert/  Paul  Trollope 

Layout  and  Production 

Rick  Bebout 

Rick  Amis.  Mike  Aoki.  Carol  Auld.  Paul  Bartlet. 

Burke  Campbell.  Robin  Cass.  John  Fletcher. 

Linda  Green.  Pam  Godfrey.  Norman  Hatton. 

Jake  Peters.  Bob  Wolff.  Peter  Zorzi 

and  members  ot  the  collective 

Printing  Delta  Web  Graphics.  Scarborough 

Advertising 
Chris  Bearchell.  Gerald  Hannon.  Ken  Popert 
Mike  Aoki.  John  Oesputeau.  Gerry  Oxford. 

Craig  Patterson 

Promotion 
Ken  Popert 

Subscriptions  and  Distribution 

Roger  Spalding.  Robert  Trow 

Denis  Fontaine.  Joe  McNemey.  Matthias  Ostermann. 

Michael  Riordon.  Dan  Schneider.  Bob  Wallace. 

Grant  Weaver 

Olfice 

Chris  Bearchell.  Rick  Bebout.  Gerald  Hannon. 

Ed  Jackson.  Ken  Popert 

Paul  Aboud.  Lawrence  Ciemson.  David  Newcome. 

Michael  Petty.  Ken  West 

The  Body  Politic  is  published  ten  limes  a  year  Oy  fink  Triangle 
Press  a  nonprofit  corporation  as  a  contribution  to  the  Building  ol 
the  gay  movement  and  the  growth  ol  gay  consciou 
Responsibility  tor  the  content  ol  The  Body  Politic  rests  with  the 
Body  Politic  Collective  an  autonomous  body  operating  within  Pink 
■■  Press  The  collective  is  a  group  ol  people  who  regularly 
give  then  time  and  labour  to  the  production  ol  this  maga/me  the 
opinions  ot  the  collective  are  represented  only  in  editorials  and 

.  'narked  editorial  essays  Oltices  ol  The  Body  Poiii 
located  at  ?4  Duncan  Street  I  tilth  lloor)  in  Toronto 

the  publication  ol  an  advertisement  in  The  Body  Politic  toes  not 
mean  that  the  collective  endorses  the  advert 

'ne  Body  Poliiic  Box  7?89  Sin  A 
loronii  ma  MbW  1X9 

Phone  14161  977  t 

71  from 

toronlt  ,r)a  M4Y  ?H9 

Copyright       1 9S0  Pink  triangle  i 
?nr 

1606 


The  Body  Politic  is  a  member  ol  the  Coalition  lor 

Gay  Rights  m  Ontario  and  the  Canadian 

Periodical  Publishers '  Association 


Quote  of  the  Month 

' '  You  can 't  put  a  price  tag  on  justice. 
Police  Community  Relations  Officer  Eric  Wright,  defending  the  high  cost 
in  money  and  manpower  of  the  February  5  police  raids  on  four  Toronto  steam  baths. 


With  a  little  help  from  our  friends 


This  issue  of  The  Body  Politic  is  late. 
Final  press  date  had  to  be  bumped  back 
nearly  a  week  when  it  became  clear  that 
police  raids  on  the  baths  in  Toronto 
were  spawning  the  biggest  gay  story  of 
the  last  few  years.  Newswriters  who'd 
thought  most  of  their  work  for  this  issue 
was  finished  found  themselves  flying  all 
over  town  in  taxis  to  keep  track  of 
events.  More  than  three  pages  of 
previously  planned  news  were  pulled  to 
make  space  for  stories  on  the  raids  and 
on  reaction  from  gay  people  and  their 
supporters  in  the  straight  community. 
The  cover  we  had  planned  was  scrapped 
and  a  new  one  thrown  together  in  an 
evening.  Not  only  were  TBP  staff  in- 
volved in  reporting  events,  but  they  also 
spent  the  night  of  the  raids  at  the 
Toronto  police's  52  Division  reassuring 
those  arrested  (before  being  relieved  by 
George  Smith  and  Elan  Rosenquist 
from  the  Right  to  Privacy  Committee). 
They  answered  phone  calls  from  wor- 
ried found-ins  all  through  the  nexl 
week.  They  attended  meetings  to  help 
formulate  the  community's  response. 

So,  this  issue    .  laic  (and  probably  lull 
ol  typOS)  bul  il  would  have  been  a  lol 

later  il  other  people  hadn't  started 
showing  up  at  the  door,  offering  to  pro- 
Mile  everything  from  courier  service  to 
phone-answering  to  proofreading  and 
editorial  skills  during  a  week  ol  the 
crazies)  days  since  TBP%  own  trial  in 

Peter  Schafftei  and  Andrew  Mtulin 
were  in  the  office  within  hours  ot  the 
i. nils,  fielding  phone  calls,  making  col 

mil  ferrying  people  back  and  forth 


to  52  Division.  (Andrew  also  made  two 
long  treks  to  the  printer  in  Scarbor- 
ough, delivering  pages  of  TBP  as  they 
were  finished.)  Cab  driver  Adrian 
Hamel  picked  up  reporter  Gerald 
Hannon  and  got  him  to  every  one  of  the 
city's  baths  —  and  picked  up  the  tab 
himself.  A  man  named  Tony,  who  had 
been  busted  as  a  found-in  at  the  Roman 
Sauna,  provided  the  same  service  for 
reporter  Ed  Jackson. 

Jake  Peters  and  Rick  Amis  took 
photos  and  processed  prints  up  to  a  few 
hours  before  pages  were  taken  to  press. 
Norman  Hatton  provided  pictures  of 
damage  inside  the  baths.  Bob  Gallagher 
and  Burke  Campbell  came  in  at  8:(X)  in 
the  morning  to  proofread.  When  he 
wasn't  busy  producing  "No  More 
Shit!"  bullous,  Chris  Davis  lent  a  hand 
at  52  Division  and  scouted  around  lor 
even  more  phoiographs.  Peter  Zorzi 
and  Charlie  Dobie.  two  people  who  had 
been  around  ai  the  birth  of  The  Body 
Politic  in  I S>7 1 ,  were  back  doing 
telephone  work  and  helping  plan  public 
action.  I  he  olfice  was  lull  ami  frantic, 
Willi  all  these  people  anil  more. 

Il  always  lakes  a  lol  ol  people  lo  pro 
duce  an  issue  ol  I  lie  Body  Politic       as 
oui  masthead  aiiesis      ami  it  often 
takes  extraordinary  effort,  rhereare 

alwavs  people  we  mean  lo  give  Credit  lor 
llieir  help,    but  wedon'l  always  gel 

around  to  it.  I  ins  nine,  though,  we 

wanted  to  make  sure  lo  sa\  ihanks. 
I  hanks  uol  nisi  lor  helping  this  issue 

eei  lo  press,  inn  tor  ^n^x-  again  making 
us  proud  lo  be  pan  oi  a  strong,  commit- 
ted community 


Elsewhere  in  this  issue 

Trading  on  Secrets:  Chris  Bearchell 
looks  at  the  CBC  documentary. 
'  'Sharing  the  Secret. "  p21 

An  evening  with  Gay  Appeal:  Fay  Orr 
on  the  night  the  homos  invaded  Casa 
Loma.  p25 

Let's  get  rude!  Gary  Ostrom  provides 
the  latest  on  gay  etiquette  in  Beyond 
the  Vanderbelt  p26 
Party  time:  David  Roche  goes  out  on 
the  circuit  with  rising  director /play- 
wright Sky  Gilbert.  p27 
Friendly  ferocity:  Christine  Donald  on 
the  international  lesbian  conference  in 
Amsterdam.  p18 
Jane  Rule's  web:  Michael  Lynch 
reviews  Contract  with  the  World  p29 
Fear  of  Cruising:  Jeft  Richardson  on 
pick-up  paranoia.  The  Back  Page.  p43. 


Regular  departments 

Letters 

4 

Taking  Issue 

7 

Editorial 

8 

World  News 

19 

Between  the  Lines 

17 

The  Ivory  Tunnel 

35 

Classifieds 

36 

Community  Page 

40 

Cover  photos  by  Gerald  Hannon 


MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/3 


469  Church  Street,  Toronto.  Phone  961-8861 


Special  packages  to  Key  West,  Ft  Lauderdale,  San  Juan  and  Acapulco 

We're  Number  One  in  Gay  Travel 


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place 


V      •  Rooms  &  Apartments 

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Gossip  mongering 


There  are  two  reviews  in  the  November 
issue  that  seem  to  me  from  offbase  to 
totally  wrongheaded.  Merely  the  former 
is  Norman  Hay's  —  and  it  seems  many 
others'  —  opinion  of  Bette  Midler.  Hay 
writes,  "I  don't  know  if  it's  a  good 
film"  —  Divine  Madness,  that  is  —  "or 
not  and,  frankly,  I  don't  care.  The 
sheer  force  of  Bette  Midler  grabs  you 
and  hurtles  you,"  blah,  blah,  blah.  As  a 
film  critic  of  some  experience,  I  do 
know  that  it's  a  pretty  good  film  effici- 
ently and  attractively  shot,  but  I  don't 
care,  either,  because  the  sheer  force  of 
BM  nearly  hurtled  me  out  on  the  street 
again.  Ninety- four  minutes  of  pretty 
much  the  same  tune,  the  same  antics, 
and  the  same  elephantine  trappings  for 
them  are  about  60  minutes  too  much. 
Midler's  got  a  mediocre  voice,  Sophie 
Tucker's  her  best  writer,  and  if  it  wasn't 
for  the  Harlettes  she'd  flounder  even 
worse  in  her  dull  repertoire.  Oh,  I'll  give 
her  the  bum-on-the-park-bench  panto- 
mime, which  I  suspect  she  copped  from 
Red  Skelton's  Freddie  the  Freeloader, 
and  the  Tucker  stories.  But  if  she's  this 
gay  generation's  Garland,  we  have 
reason  to  mourn  for  the  good /bad  old 
days.  Bette  Midler  is  thin  gruel.  Her  ad- 
mirers, however,  love  her  so  uncritically 
and  inattentively  that  they  even  mess  up 
her  motto  when  they  quote  it.  It's  not 
"Fuck  'em  all."  It's  "Fuck  'em  if  they 
can't  take  a  joke."  I  agree. 

Totally  wrongheaded  is  James  Ten- 
nyson's review  of  Chamber  Music .  So 
intent  is  he  upon  unearthing  the  homo- 
sexual dirt  about  Edward  MacDowell 
that  he  slights  and  trivializes  an  aston- 
ishing novel,  one  of  the  best  in  recent 
years  that  deals  at  all  with  homosexual- 
ity. He  regards  Doris  Grumbach's  dis- 
claimer that  she  is  not  writing  biography 
(I  take  the  word  "autobiography"  in 
the  review  to  be  a  typo  —  it  is  at  any 
rate  not  the  word  Grumbach  uses)  as  an 
"evasion"  rather  than  an  honest  direc- 
tion to  attend  to  the  novel  itself.  Grum- 
bach no  doubt  anticipated  exactly  the 
kind  of  beside-the-point  exercise  in  ill- 
tempered  speculation  Tennyson  affords 
and  tried  to  nip  it.  But  gossip-mongers 
are  obviously  not  easily  put  off.  Given 
Hamlet,  they'll  spend  all  their  time  try- 
ing to  decide  how  close  a  friend,  and  of 
what  kind,  Horatio  was  to  the  historical 
prince  —  or  even  Rosencrantz  to 
Guildenstern. 

I  mean,  is  it  really  all  that  important 
to  know  whether  MacDowell  was  homo- 
sexual? Would  it  be  "a  service  to  gay 
history  to  publish  the  fact"  if  he  was? 
What  kind  of  service?  I'd  like  answers 
to  these  questions. 

Considerably  more  important  are  the 
very  real  skill  Grumbach  displays  and 
the  implications  of  the  relationships  she 
creates.  Having  adopted  the  mode  of  a 
memoir  by  her  principal  character,  she 
impressively  conjures  the  intellectual 
and  emotional  climate  in  which  Carrie 
McLaren  matured  through  the  style  of 
prose  she  writes.  There  are  turns  of 
phrase  that  subtly,  authoritatively  par- 
ticularize and  illuminate  Carrie  McLaren 
as  a  woman  of  her  time.  The  Grumbach 
novel's  only  peer  I  can  readily  recall  is 
Patience  and  Sarah,  a  justly  famous 
lesbian  novel  that  likewise  succeeds 
through  finding  appropriate  prose  styles 


for  its  two  protagonists'  narrations  of 
the  story. 

The  implications  of  the  relationships 
in  Chamber  Music  constitute  its  most 
provocative  interest,  though.  Tennyson 
fails  to  mention  the  complication  in  the 
affair  between  the  two  women  in  the 
novel,  which  is  a  melancholy  young 
composer  who  falls  in  love  with  Anna 
the  nurse.  This  man,  like  McLaren,  is 
an  emotional  cripple,  finally  unable  to 
deal  humanely  with  his  feelings.  Like 
McLaren  before  him,  rather  than  face 
emotional  reality,  he  retreats  into  self- 
dramatization,  ultimately  destroying 
himself  and  seriously  damaging  the 
women's  lives.  The  novel  disturbingly 
counterpoints  men  who  are  unable  to 
follow  their  passions  creatively  and  self- 
fulfillingly  with  women  who  are. 

Putting  it  broadly,  the  novel  proceeds 
from  the  assumption  that  men  are  emo- 
tionally dishonest  and  destructive  while 
women  are  open  and  creative.  Men  may 
be  more  materially  creative  thereby  — 
they  write  the  music  —  but  they  burn 
themselves  up  while  a  Carrie  McLaren 
lives  past  90.  The  same  assuption,  of 
course,  underlies  many  recent  gay  books 
—  The  Wanderground  comes  to  my 
mind,  and  parts  of  Larry  Mitchell's  The 
Faggots  and  Their  Friends  Between 
Revolutions.  I'm  not  sure  it's  a  valid 
assumption,  but  when  it  eventuates  in 
so  many  distinguished  gay  books,  I 
think  it's  one  we  overlook  unwisely. 
Ray  Olson 
St  Paul,  Minnesota 

Decorous  straights 

We  were  surprised  by  "Name 
Withheld" 's  letter,  (TBP,  February)  in 
which  he  writes  "Is  the  straight  Shaw 
Festival  more  important  to  you  than  gay 
plays?"  We  hadn't  noticed  any  special 
attention  being  paid  to  the  Shaw  Festi- 
val by  The  Body  Politic,  although  it 
might  be  very  nice. 

Also,  we  were  perturbed  by  the  essen- 
tially pejorative  use  of  the  word 
"straight"  as  applied  to  the  Festival. 
We  can  assure  "Name  Withheld"  that 
the  straights  in  the  company  behave 
with  decorum  and  make  a  fine  contribu- 
tion to  the  work  of  the  Festival. 
Christopher  Newton,  Artistic  Director 
Paul  Reynolds,  Ass't  Artistic  Director 
Shaw  Festival 
Niagara-on-the-Lake,  Ont. 

No  betrayal 

As  a  New  Democrat,  I  share  the  disap- 
pointment of  TBP  with  the  decision  of 
the  NDP's  parliamentary  caucus  not  to 
move  the  sexual  orientation  amendment 
to  the  Ontario  Human  Rights  Code; 
however,  I  am  also  disturbed  by  your 
editorial  regarding  this  issue  which  con- 
cluded: "no  sitting  member  of  the 
Legislature  is  worthy  of  either  our  active 
support,  or  votes,  in  the  coming 
election." 

The  NDP  Caucus's  decision  was  not 
unanimous,  but  once  made  it  is  binding. 
As  TBP  reported,  there  were  at  least 
five  NDP  Members  who  spoke  out 
strongly  in  the  Legislature  for  an  end  to 
discrimination  and  hatred  towards  gay 
people.  I  am  confident  that  there  are 
other  NDP  MPPs  who  also  favour  the 


4/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


"Vigorously  denounce  anti-cuddlers! 

Defend  the  right  of  all  cuddlers  to  con  sensually 

engage  in  their  preferred  activities  without  regard 

to  the  limitations  of  bourgeois  morality!" 


sexual  orientation  amendment,  but 
they,  too,  are  bound  by  the  caucus  deci- 
sion. Surely  these  committed  individual 
MPPs  deserve  to  be  re-elected  to  the  On- 
tario Legislature  in  the  coming  election 
with  the  support  of  gay  campaign 
workers  and  voters. 

It  is  very  distressing  that  the  NDP's 
parliamentary  caucus  decided  not  to 
move  the  amendment,  yet  that  does  not 
represent  a  betrayal  by  the  New  Demo- 
cratic Party.  The  NDP's  gay  rights 
policy  was  approved  by  the  provincial 
convention  of  delegates  from  all  NDP 
riding  associations,  labour  affiliates  and 
youth  in  1976.  That  policy  has  not  been 
changed. 

Naturally,  it  is  upsetting  to  NDPers 
when  the  leadership  fails  to  act  on  es- 
tablished policy,  and  this  is  a  serious 
issue  which  we  must  address  on  this  and 
other  matters.  Upon  reading  your  edi- 
torial, however,  I  am  left  wondering 
how  any  gay  rights  will  ever  be  recog- 
nized and  by  whom  if  more  gay  people 
do  not  become  involved  in  electoral 
politics. 

We  should  understand  that  outlawing 
discrimination  against  gay  people  repre- 
sents only  an  initial  —  though  very  sig- 
nificant —  victory  in  the  struggle 
against  homophobia  in  all  its  forms  of 
ignorance,  fear  and  malevolence.  While 
I  do  not  feel  that  this  is  "the  most  im- 
portant issue"  in  Ontario  society  today, 
nevertheless  it  must  be  seen  as  a  funda- 
mental priority  at  a  time  when  someone 
such  as  John  Damien  can  be  fired  as  a 
racing  steward  simply  because  he  is  gay. 

Of  the  three  parliamentary  parties, 
neither  the  Conservatives  nor  the  Liber- 
als have  demonstrated  any  capacity  to 
defend  gay  people.  The  NDP,  though, 
already  has  a  reasonable  gay  rights 
policy,  and  by  electing  more  New 
Democrats  and  holding  them  to  that 
policy  there  is  a  real  opportunity  for  af- 
firming gay  rights,  along  with  the  rights 
of  everyone,  to  have  decent  work,  good 
health,  a  secure  home,  a  full  education 
and  to  be  free  of  discrimination. 

Part  of  the  wider  effort  to  create  a 
socialist  society  —  a  consciously  human 
community  —  is  our  commitment  to  re- 
spect and  foster  loving,  caring,  and 
mutually  supportive  human  interrela- 
tions irrespective  of  gender.  This  firm 
principle  infuses  my  activity  politically 
and  personally.  For  this  reason,  I  see 
the  NDP  Caucus's  decision  as  only  a 
momentary  stumble  and  not  a  fatal 
flaw.  Rather  than  avoiding  the  NDP  or 
electoral  politics  generally,  we  need  to 
work  together  to  ensure  that  it  does  not 
happen  again. 

Grant  Wedge 
Toronto 

Vigorous  cuddling 

The  Body  Politic's  campaign  of 
persecution  of  sexual  minorities  con- 
tinues unabated.  First  it  was  a  bitter 
denunciation  of  bambiscxuals  in  an  arti- 
cle on  sex  toys  by  Gerald  Hannon. 
Now,  hidden  in  an  otherwise  innocuous 
lifestyle  piece  on  Christmas  at  the  baths 
("Fast  and  loose  for  the  holidays," 
TBP,  December /January),  Paul  Pcarcc 
dares  to  launch  a  new  attack  on  cud- 
dlers. His  arrogance  cannot  go 
unanswered. 


As  the  Bambisexual  Liberation  Front 
so  eloquently  explained  in  its  reply  to 
Hannon's  slanders  against  its  members, 
slurpy-wurpy  cuddly-wuddly  sex  is  def- 
initely where  it's  at.  Cuddling  is  an  im- 
portant part  of  all  bambisexuals'  sexual 
activity.  It  helps  oppose  the  tyranny  of 
genital  primacy  and  assists  in  breaking 
down  the  backward  notions  of  private 
property  implicit  in  Pearce's  defence  of 
"his  fair  share"  of  the  bed. 

Vigorously  denounce  anti-cuddlers! 
Defend  the  right  of  all  cuddlers  to  con- 
sensually  engage  in  their  preferred  ac- 
tivities without  regard  to  the  confining 
limitations  imposed  by  bourgeois  moral- 
ity and  property  systems! 

We  demand  that  The  Body  Politic  im- 
mediately reverse  its  covert  and  deceit- 
ful practice  of  attacking  sexual  minori- 
ties, a  course  of  action  it  has  been  able 
to  get  away  with  only  by  dint  of  syco- 
phantically  wrapping  itself  in  the  cloak 
of  the  cult  of  personal  journalism. 

(By  the  way,  apart  from  the  unfor- 
givable slurs  against  cuddlers,  we 
thought  Paul  Pearce's  article  was  very 
good.) 

Cuddlers'  Caucus 
The  Bambisexual  Liberation  Front 
Toronto 

Money  talks 

At  a  recent  gay  rights  conference  in 
Halifax,  I  participated  in  a  discussion  of 
human  rights  legislation  and  how  best 
to  protect  our  rights  as  gay  men  and 
womyn.  One  of  the  strongest  expres- 
sions of  opinion  was  that  the  political 
action  route,  although  of  some  value, 
was  unlikely  to  net  gays  very  many 
results.  Even  though  I  strongly  favour 
such  action,  I  found  myself  agreeing 
with  this  viewpoint.  But  I  also  felt  that 
this  reality  can  be  changed. 

In  Canadian  society,  minority  groups 
have  managed  to  secure  effective  politi- 
cal influence  through  the  concentration 
of  economic  wealth.  The  "Wops"  of 
15-20  years  ago  are  now  the  respectable 
members  of  the  Italian-Canadian  com- 
munity. The  Inuit,  who  were  once  vir- 
tually unknown  and  whose  economic 
potential  —  due  to  land  claims  —  is 
enormous,  are  now  almost  a  household 
name.  These  people  are  being  heard  and 
soon  will  be  listened  to.  The  Jewish 
community,  which  traditionally  has  had 
to  defend  its  minority  status,  has  a 
political  influence,  both  here  and  in  the 
US,  based  on  its  economic  muscle.  This 
influence  is  far  out  of  proportion  to  its 
numerical  strength.  The  English-Cana- 
dian minority  of  Quebec  is  a  glaring  ex- 
ample of  the  influence  of  economic 
muscle,  even  in  the  face  of  determined 
political  action. 

If  gays  pool  their  individual  resources 
and  direct  them  into  economic  ventures, 
then  we  too  can  become  an  influential 
minority.  One  such  mechanism  is  an  in- 
vestment corporation:  individuals  (any 
number  with  any  amount  of  cash,  no 
matter  how  small)  combine  their  wealth 
for  investment  in  real  estate,  stocks, 
business  ventures  or  other  endeavours. 

The  first  thing  this  accomplishes  is 
concentration  of  wealth.  Next,  it  in- 
creases wealth  through  wise  Invert 
ments.  Also,  it  provides  a  financial 
resource  to  gays  wanting  to  establish 


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MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/5 


f>W#s 


r/* 


jr 


Norman  Hay  does. 

Norman  Hay  writes  for  The  Body  Politic  because  he  feels 
'  'there 's  a  need  for  gay  journalism  in  which  we  can  celebrate 
our  own. ' '  Like  all  TBP's  contributors,  Norman  writes  for  free. 
But  getting  his  writing  to  our  readers  costs  plenty  —  more  than 
$2,500  in  production  charges  per  issue.  A  $50  donation  could 
cover  the  cost  of  the  page  you  're  reading  now. 


"Why  use  the  sensational  term  'orgy'? 
An  orgy,  by  definition,  involves:  'feasting  and 
revelry,  especially  as  marked  by  excessive 
indulgence  or  licence. " 


financially  sound,  gay-oriented  busines- 
ses. This  does  not  mean  that  gay  indiv- 
iduals or  groups  should  receive  backing 
solely  on  the  basis  of  their  sexual  orien- 
tation. A  bad  investment  is  bad,  wheth- 
er gay  or  otherwise.  But  a  gay-oriented 
investment  body  can  be  available  to 
those  who  cannot  receive  backing 
because  of  their  sexual  orientation.  This 
way,  our  sexual  preference  can  result  in 
an  economic  preference.  And  the  pur- 
pose of  this  financial  resource  does  not 
preclude  our  participation  in  non-gay- 
oriented  economic  ventures.  In  fact, 
one  of  the  main  goals  is  to  become  in- 
tegrally linked  to  the  non-gay  communi- 
ty and  therefore  to  create  a  situation  in 
which  our  economic  and  social  well- 
being  becomes  of  critical  importance  to 
them. 

If  we  are-not  to  leave  ourselves  at  the 
mercy  of  our  sometimes  liberal-minded 
fellow  citizens,  who  may  next  year  elect 
a  Ronald  Reagan  or  defeat  a  John 
Sewell,  then  we  must  provide  for  our 
own  security.  When  our  participation  as 
a  cohesive  group  or  series  of  groups 
becomes  important  in  our  local,  provin- 
cial and  national  economies,  then  our 
requests  will  more  likely  be  heard  and 
listened  to. 

I  am  sure  that  this  concept  is  not  a 
new  one.  It  means  being  integrally  in- 
volved in  a  system  that  we  sometimes 
find  distasteful  but  it  is  important  that 
we  are  prepared  to  face  the  reality  that 
we  are  at  the  mercy  of  others  who  are 
not  alway  sympathetic.  It  is  quite  possi- 
ble that  we  may  be  faced  with  an  in- 
creasingly reactionary  society  in  the  next 
decade  and  could  suffer  the  loss  of  the 
gains  that  we  have  made.  We  do  have 
the  power  to  do  something  about  that, 
but  do  we  have  the  will? 

Glen  Pelshea 

Fredericton 

For  comment  or  questions,  write  c/o 

FLAG,  PO  Box  1556,  Station  A, 

Fredericton  NB. 


Rudeness  rejected 

I  am  writing  to  take  issue  with  the 
Taking  Issue  article  by  Dan  Healey 
(TBP,  November).  I  happen  to  be  one 
of  his  "self-oppressive"  Gang  of  Four. 
I  shall  neither  attempt  to  condemn  nor 
defend  the  opinions  of  my  three  co- 
conspirators. I  do  not  know  them  and 
doubt  that  they  know  each  other. 

I  react  somewhat  strongly  to  the 
groundless  charge  of  a  "sickening 
display  of  self-oppression,"  especially 
from  someone  I  presume  to  be  a  total 
stranger.  I  refute  the  charge  of 
of  "going  for  the  jugular."  And  I  feel 
unjustly  attacked.  Could  it  be  because  I 
am  not  "always  wrapped  in  a  sarong"? 
(I  usually  prefer  caftans  or  djallabahs.) 
Could  it  be  because  I  am  not  an  "attrac- 
tive 25-year  old"? 

Personally,  I  do  not  care  if  Dan 
Healey  is  a  "clone"  or  not.  Nor  do  I 
care  that  he  can  trace  his  exalted  lineage 
back  to  a  "distinguished  line  of 
clones."  I  am  unable  to  do  this  and  bear 
the  "shame"  of  probably  being  the  only 
Afro-Eurasian  "clone"  on  Howard 
Street. 

My  crime,  however,  appears  to  be  far 
more  serious.  I  simply  reject  rudeness. 


Is  this  so  terrible?  Apparently,  yes.  As  a 
very  shy  person,  I  find  it  terribly  dif- 
ficult to  be  socially  "outgoing."  How- 
ever, I  do  try  and  react  unfavourably  to 
the  rudeness  and  /or  denial  of  existence 
to  which  I  am  often  subjected. 

Maybe  Healey  should  harness  some 
of  his  "divisive  anger  and  use  it  against 
the  people  we  all  oppose,"  rather  than 
wasting  everyone's  time  spewing  his 
own  personal  venom. 

John  Yorke 
Toronto 

Dissolute  revels 

Someone  needs  their  awareness  height- 
ened. In  the  December/ January  issue  of 
TBP,  a  news  article  appeared  concern- 
ing the  House  of  Lords  vote  on  the 
Scottish  reform  bill.  It  was  reported 
that  anti-gay  groups  had  seized  upon 
the  emphasis  given  by  the  gay  press  in 
particular  to  the  legalization  of  orgies  as 
reason  for  opposing  the  bill. 

So  what  happens?  In  the  very  next 
issue  there's  the  headline:  "Gay  sex, 
orgies  to  be  legal  at  18...."  The  pro- 
posed amendments  may  legalize  sex  be- 
tween several  consenting  adults,  but 
why  use  the  sensational  term  "orgy"? 
An  orgy,  by  definition,  involves: 
"feasting  and  revelry,  especially  as 
marked  be  excessive  indugence  or 
licence"  (OED). 

While  it  may  be  true  that,  once  legal, 
some  gays  will  indulge  in  "wild  or 
dissolute  revels,"  surely  to  emphasize 
that  drastic  extreme  can  only  provide 
the  Right  with  anti-gay  ammunition. 

Name  Withheld 
Toronto 


Hypocrites 


I  wasn't  going  to  answer  your  request 
for  people  to  send  in  their  opinions 
about  the  Tom-of-Finland-type  ad  you 
ran  a  while  ago.  But  I  saw  the  piece 
again  today  while  leafing  through  the 
issue  once  more  and  decided  I'd  get 
something  off  my  chest. 

I  totally  resent  the  idea  of  anyone 
censoring  what  others  want  me  to  see. 
In  other  words,  you  shouldn't  censor 
any  ad  unless  it  contains  something  that 
is  illegal. 

Of  all  publications,  TBP  should 
especially  be  against  censorship. 

Or  in  the  court  case  against  "Men 
Loving  Boys,"  do  you  think  you  should 
have  that  freedom  —  but  at  the  same 
time,  feel  you  have  the  right  to  deny  it 
to  your  readers? 

What  hypocrites  if  that's  the  case. 

M.  Krantz 
Victoria 


Our  omission 

In  our  last  issue,  we  neglected  to 
name  the  author  of  the  article, 
"TBA:  No-strings  band."  The  piece 
was  written  by  TBP  collective 
member  Stephen  MacDonald,  to 
whom  his  fellow  collective  member 
Rick  Bebout  apologizes  for  leaving 
his  byline  in  limbo  instead  of  on  the 
layout. 


Address  your  letters  to  The  Body  Politic, 
Box  7289,  Station  A,  Toronto  M5W  1X9. 


6/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


Takinglssue 


Scapegoating  the  NDP 


The  1980  Toronto  municipal  election 
campaign  was  an  exciting  milestone  in 
the  history  of  our  movement  and  an  in- 
dication of  the  advances  we  have  made 
in  the  last  ten  years.  The  thrill  of  having 
our  first  openly  gay  candidate  unfor- 
tunately was  diminished  by  George 
Hislop's  defeat.  We  all  thought  that 
George  was  going  to  win.  When  he  did 
not,  we  felt  betrayed  somehow.  Even 
worse  were  our  feelings  of  isolation  and 
powerlessness.  Naturally,  we  ask  our- 
selves what  went  wrong,  and  perhaps 
equally  naturally,  we  look  for 
scapegoats  for  our  frustration.  In  light 
of  this  desire,  we  would  like  to  talk 
about  the  treatment  of  the  election  in 
the  December/ January  issue  of  TBP. 

Both  the  editorial  and  the  feature  ar- 
ticle on  the  election  make  comments 
about  the  role  of  the  Metro  NDP  in  the 
outcome  of  the  election,  suggesting  that 
the  NDP  was  in  some  measure  responsi- 
ble for  the  defeat  not  only  of  George, 
but  also  of  Mayor  Sewell. 

The  whole  question  of  party  involve- 
ment at  the  municipal  level  needs  more 
explanation.  The  introduction  of  open 
and  organized  party  politics  into  the 
municipal  scene  by  the  NDP,  co- 
ordinated with  its  provincial  and  federal 
counterparts,  helps  to  remove  the  old- 
guard  myth  that  aldermen  serve  the 
public  good  without  reference  to  inter- 
est groups  or  power  blocks.  This  idea 
may  have  had  some  validity  when  pot- 
holes and  garbage  collection  were  the 
only  contentious  issues  at  City  Hall.  To- 
day, it  is  essential  to  have  a  comprehen- 
sive party  programme  to  ensure  ade- 
quate social  services  and  to  co-ordinate 
strategies  between  political  jurisdictions. 

The  Metro  NDP  has  and  continues  to 
create  its  own  platform  and  policies 
concerning  municipal  issues.  Often  the 
aims  of  New  Democrats  are  mirrored  in 
the  goals  of  other  progressive  individ- 
uals or  organizations.  However,  the 
NDP  has  a  responsibility  to  its  members 
who  create  the  policy,  to  support  only 
candidates  who  are  able  to  embrace  that 
policy  in  its  entirety.  We  have  no  doubt 
that  George  Hislop  would  have  made  a 
good  alderman  this  term,  that  he  will  be 
a  good  alderman  in  1982.  Nevertheless, 
he  would  not  have  been  an  NDP  alder- 
man and,  no  matter  how  similar  his 
position  on  any  issue,  he  would  not  be 
accountable  to  the  membership  of  the 
NDP.  By  saying  publicly  that  he  would 
run  in  Ward  Six  whether  or  not  he 
received  the  nomination  of  the  Ward  Six 
Community  Organization,  George  indi- 
cated clearly  that  he  would  welcome  the 
support  of  such  organizations,  but  that 
he  did  not  see  this  support  as  a  pre- 
requisite for  his  candidacy.  This  is 
perfectly  reasonable.  George  feels  that 
he  can  do  the  job  best  without  party  af- 
filiation. Given  this  position  though, 
surely  it  is  unreasonable  to  complain 
that  the  NDP  failed  to  cooperate 
Despite  Ed  Jackson's  references  to  "a 
complete  NDP  slate  across  the  city,"  the 
decision  to  run  only  one  aldermanic 
candidate  in  a  two-seat  race  was  so  ob- 
vious and  important  a  recognition  of  an 
additional  progressive  candidate  in  the 
field  that  it  is  surprising  that  TBP 
overlooked  this  ingredient  in  Ward  Six 
politics. 


Mayor  Sewell,  the  other  progressive 
candidate  the  NDP  allegedly  failed, 
publicly  spoke  out  against  party  politics 
at  the  Metro  level,  even  while  many 
members  of  the  Metro  NDP  were  work- 
ing on  his  campaign.  Although  Sewell 
was  not  a  member  of  the  party,  many 
individuals  who  were  members  chose  to 
assist  him  because  of  the  importance  of 
the  mayor's  position  and  their  own 
regard  for  Sewell  himself. 

Another  disturbing  point  in  the 
paper's  analysis  was  the  suggestion  that 
"something"  seemed  to  be  boosting 
Dan  Heap's  strength  and  that  it  "appears 
to  have  been  homophobic  votes  on  both 
the  Left  and  the  Right."  To  judge  the 
attitudes  of  the  voting  public  according 
to  ballots,  even  based  on  a  72%  sample, 
is  a  risky  proposition.  To  judge  a  cam- 
paign and  the  constituencies  to  which  it 
appeals  is  less  difficult.  The  Ward  Six 
NDP  presented  a  balanced  campaign  of 
civic  and  educational  issues  of  concern 
to  downtown  working  people  with  no 
attempt  whatsoever  to  garner  support 
from  the  bigoted  or  the  unprogressive. 
The  W6NDP  sponsored  a  workshop  to 
sensitize  other  Metro  NDP  campaigns  to 
gay  issues  in  the  city  and  to  explain  the 
Metro  NDP  gay  rights  platform.  Both 
campaigns  made  use  of  neighbourhood 
letters,  messages  aimed  at  voters  in  par- 
ticular apartment  buildings  or  threat- 
ened residential  areas.  Unlike  the  Hislop 
campaign,  the  W6NDP  avoided  separate 
literature  highlighting  gay  rights  for  cir- 
culation primarily  within  the  gay  com- 
munity, such  as  that  distributed  by  the 
Association  of  Gay  Electors.  Our  liter- 
ature, which  dealt  with  sexual  orienta- 
tion more  than  the  general  W6CO  mater- 
ial, was  designed  for  canvassers  to  dis- 
cuss with  voters  on  as  many  doorsteps 
as  possible.  The  campaign  brought 
together  hundreds  of  people  in  a  well- 
organized  three-candidate  team,  spear- 
headed by  a  canvassing  effort  which, 
particularly  on  the  east  side  of  the  ward 
and  in  Chinatown,  succeeded  in  main- 
taining and  increasing  the  support  Heap 
has  enjoyed  since  1972. 

The  NDP  is  taken  to  task  for  the 
absence  of  an  analysis  of  other  cam- 
paigns in  the  ward.  TBP  says  that  we 
did  not  deem  it  important  to  "make  any 
distinctions  between  the  other  serious 
candidates,"  and  that  we  chose  instead, 
in  our  final  piece,  to  stress  Metro  issues. 
The  Metro  NDP,  like  the  W6CO,  was 
working  for  the  election  of  its  own  can- 
didates. To  suggest  that  a  political  party 
like  the  NDP  has  a  responsibility  to  ex- 
plain or  promote  the  platform  of  other 
organizations  is  naive. 

Clearly,  the  Metro  NDP  is  going  to 
continue  to  play  a  major  role  in  the 
political  life  of  this  city.  The  next  muni- 
cipal election  will  show  an  even  larger 
number  of  NDP  candidates  and  maybe 
even  some  up-front  Liberals  or  Conser- 
vatives. We  hope  that  the  progressive 
forces  in  Toronto,  both  partisan  and 
nonpartisan,  will  be  able  to  reconcile 
their  differences  and  work  against  the 
Right,  not  against  each  other 

loin  Suddon  and  Paul  Leonard  are 
numbers  oj  the  NDP  who  campaignad 
lor  thai  party's  candidates  m  the  Nov 
ember  municipal  election  in  Toronto, 


*>0nm 


Paul  Aboud  does. 

When  he 's  not  busy  keeping  an  alleged  common  bawdy  house, 
Paul  helps  out  in  TBPs  office.  He  can  keep  the  postage  meter 
whirring  away  for  hours.  That's  the  sound  of  our  postage  bill 
going  up  —  up  to  more  than  $13,000  last  year  to  cover 
subscriptions,  bulk  mailings  and  editorial  correspondence. 
A  $20  donation  can  keep  Paul  working  for  four  hours. 


I'd  like  to  get 
into  the  picture. 


Here's  my  contribution  to  help  keep  TBP  going: 
B$10  U$25  D$50  B$_ 


My  name  is:. 
Myaddress: 


City_ 


Code 


Mail  this  form  with  your  donation  to  The  Body  Politic,  Box  7289. 
Station  A,  Toronto  ON  M5W 1X9.  We  'II  all  be  grateful,  and  we  'II 
even  send  you  a  note  to  say  so.  (And  it  you  'd  really  like  to  get 
into  the  picture,  feel  free  to  send  along  a  snapshot!) 


And  so  do  you. 


MARCH  1981 


Fay,  Norman  and  Paul  contribute  their  time  to  keep  The  Body 
Politic  going,  but  they  couldn  t  do  it  without  the  money  it  takes 
to  turn  their  work  into  10.000  copies  of  TBP  ten  times  a  year. 
Subscriptions,  sales  and  advertising  provide  most  of  that 
money,  but  we  need  help  from  you  to  make  up  the  difference. 
Get  into  the  picture.  Send  your  contribution  today. 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/7 


dudes 


Editorial 


^      smashing 
&*  spring  «nes\ 

«i  evi  501  ieans 

.neeCeepamter'sP^ 

^eatSb^sportswear 

Must  Me" SVNimxNear 

.Nor^antacostes^ts 

.MarkEWot^rtS 


;i  toronto 

«^';:,c^°"n9.%h•«--«,tes,e,, 

mon-vued^;9  sa 


No  apologies 


FREEDOM 
RALLY 


The  time:  7:30  PM 

The  date:  FRIDAY,  MARCH  6 

The  place:  ST  LAWRENCE  MARKET  NORTH 
(corner  Jarvis  &  Front,  Toronto) 

The  message:  STOP  DISCRIMINATION 

AGAINST  LESBIANS  AND  GAY  MEN 

•  NO  MORE  POLICE  PERSECUTION 

•  AMEND  THE  HUMAN  RIGHTS  CODE 
Speakers  and  entertainment  to  be  announced. 


Sponsored  by:  THE  COALITION  FOR  GAY 

RIGHTS  IN  ONTARIO 
Donation:  $2  AT  THE  DOOR 


GSD 


Gays  fight  back.  And  we  will  make  no  apologies  to  anyone  for  that. 

Thursday,  February  5,  more  than  150  Toronto  police  raided  every  major  gay  bath 
in  this  city.  They  arrested  286  gay  men  —  nearly  all  on  the  charge  of  simply  being 
"found-in"  in  a  "common  bawdy  house."  The  men  were  humiliated  and  insulted; 
they  were  subjected  to  fascist  taunts  such  as  "Too  bad  these  showers  weren't  hook- 
ed up  to  gas."  Some  were  beaten.  In  addition,  police  took  sledgehammers  and 
crowbars  to  break  down  doors,  smash  glass  and  mirrors,  and  destroy  equipment. 
They  did  damage  estimated  at  $35,000. 

Midnight  the  next  day,  3,000  of  us  —  gay  men,  lesbians  and  sympathizers  — 
gathered  in  protest.  We  took  to  the  streets,  and  we  marched  on  the  52  Division  of 
the  Toronto  police  and  on  the  legislature  at  Queen's  Park. 

Yes,  we  damaged  police  cars  blockading  Yonge  Street  to  stop  our  march.  Yes, 
"queerbashers"  who  started  fights  with  demonstrators  had  to  be  rescued  by  the 
police.  Yes,  we  screamed  "fascists"  at  the  very  police  who  had  invaded  the  baths 
the  night  before  like  a  bunch  of  stormtroopers.  Yes,  Toronto  saw  its  most  militant 
protest  of  the  last  decade.  And  no,  we  don't  intend  to  apologize. 

We  have  our  own  message.  It  is  time  for  the  bigots  in  Toronto  —  in  uniform  and 
otherwise  —  to  understand  that  gay  men  and  lesbians  will  fight  back  every  way  we 
know  how.  They  can  no  longer  expect  to  harass  and  intimidate  us  with  impunity. 
They  can  no  longer  attack  us  and  escape  unscathed.  We  will  fight  back,  but  we 
won't  be  alone.  Many  outside  of  our  community  who  support  human  rights  — 
other  minorities,  feminists  and  progressives  —  have  chosen  to  stand  by  our  side. 

Together  we  demand  the  immediate  dropping  of  all  charges  against  the  men  ar- 
rested February  5,  as  well  as  restitution  for  all  damage  incurred  during  the  raid. 

We  call  for  the  immediate  sacking  of  Police  Chief  Jack  Ackroyd,  who  authorized 
the  attack,  as  well  as  the  firing  of  the  head  of  the  Intelligence  Bureau,  who  directed 
and  organized  the  raids. 

We  further  demand  the  resignation  of  police  commission  chairman  Phil  Givens 
and  all  the  members  of  the  commission.  The  way  must  be  made  clear  for  new 
leadership  which  will  be  responsive  to  all  of  this  city's  citizens. 

We  demand  the  immediate  resignation  of  Ontario's  Attorney  General,  Roy 
McMurtry,  who  has  refused  to  begin  an  independent  public  inquiry  into  the  raids. 

The  man  has  shown  no  interest  in  justice;  he  must  resign. 

The  cry  that  went  up  spontaneously  from  thousands  of  gay  people  February  6 
must  echo  in  his  office  —  but  more  importantly,  it  must  define  our  own  resolution: 

No  more  raids,  no  more  shit. 

Gays,  fight  backID 


No  votes 


No  matter  who  wins  the  March  19  Ontario  election,  the  government  will  get  in.  And 
it  will  be  a  government  unsympathetic  to  the  rights  of  lesbians  and  gay  men. 

The  Conservatives,  who  have  dominated  the  legislature  for  37  years,  recently  in- 
troduced sweeping  amendments  to  the  provincial  Human  Rights  Code  —  changes 
which  did  not  include  protection  for  the  human  rights  of  gay  people. 

Now  Ontario's  Attorney  General  has  ignored  both  public  outrage  and  strong 
evidence  of  police  crimes  to  rule  out  the  possibility  of  an  independent  probe  of  the 
steambath  raids. 

The  Liberals  and  the  New  Democrats  have  wooed  gay  votes  in  the  past  with 
promises  of  human  rights  protection.  But  they  left  no  doubt  about  their  real  com- 
mitments when  they  refused  to  move  a  sexual  orientation  amendment  to  the  Code. 

If  you  are  an  Ontario  voter,  demonstrate  your  dissatisfaction  as  strongly  as  possi- 
ble. Here  are  some  ways: 

•Redirect  money  you  might  otherwise  have  given  to  a  political  party  to  groups 
like  Toronto's  Right  to  Privacy  Committee,  to  aid  in  the  defence  of  keepers  and 
found-ins  charged  in  the  raids,  or  to  the  Coalition  for  Gay  Rights  in  Ontario,  the 
organization  that  has  helped  make  gay  rights  an  issue  in  this  campaign. 

•Refuse  to  work  for  any  party  or  candidate  —  unless  that  candidate  will  publicly 
dissociate  him  or  herself  from  party  policy  and  caucus  discipline.  And  if  you 
withdraw  your  labour,  make  sure  your  candidate  knows  why. 

•Attend  all-candidates'  meetings  and  raise  embarrassing  questions  about  the 
human  rights  betrayal  and  the  Toronto  raids. 

•Pay  particular  attention  to  the  riding  of  Ottawa  Centre.  The  seat  is  held  by  NDP 
leader  Michael  Cassidy,  who  sold  out  to  political  expediency  when  time  came  to 
make  good  his  promised  support.  He  now  claims  that  "educational  work"  is 
necessary  to  make  gay  rights  "acceptable."  He  won  by  a  slim  margin  in  1977. 
Defeat  might  show  him  how  unacceptable  his  behaviour  is. 

•Spoil  your  ballot  in  the  polling  booth.  A  deliberately  spoiled  ballot  would  show 
that  no  candidate  is  worthy  of  support  and  would  register  anger  evident  at  least  to 
the  scrutineers  for  each  party.  Be  ingenious:  think  of  a  slogan  or  find  a  sticker  to 
put  on  the  ballot  to  explain  why  it  was  spoiled. 

In  the  Toronto  riding  of  St  George,  a  protest  vote  may  be  lodged  by  voting  for 
George  Hislop.  Nobody  can  pretend  Hislop  will  win,  and  we  hope  that  money,  time 
and  energy  needed  to  respond  to  the  police  attacks  is  not  diverted  to  his  campaign. 
However,  his  candidacy  will  help  to  keep  our  concerns  before  the  public  in  the  com- 
ing weeks,  and  it  can  serve  as  a  useful  focus  for  community  protest. 

We  have  hesitated  in  the  past  to  recommend  exclusive  reliance  on  the  electoral 
process  as  a  vehicle  to  achieve  our  liberation  as  lesbians  and  gay  men.  The  events  of 
recent  months  have  amply  justified  our  skepticism. D 


8/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


TheNews 


On  the  night  of  February  5,  the  police  raided  4  gay  baths,  rounded  up  286  men 

and  slapped  them  with  bawdy-house  charges.  Twenty-four  hours  later, 

3  000  angry  people  had  a  few  things  to  say  about  that.  A  report  by  Gerald  Hannon. 

TAKING  IT 


TOTH 

It  was  the  night  Toronto  came  closer 
to  a  full-scale  riot  than  it  has  in  the 
last  ten  years.  It  was  the  night  when 
three  thousand  people  came  within 
minutes  of  breaking  down  the 
doors  of  the  Ontario  legislature.  It  was 
the  night  the  main  street  of  Canada's 
largest  city  belonged  to  us,  and  nobody 
—  not  even  the  police  —  seemed  to  be 
able  to  do  anything  about  it. 

It  was  midnight,  February  6  —  just  24 
hours  after  the  largest  mass  arrest  since 
the  1970  invocation  of  the  War 
Measures  Act. 

It  was  midnight,  February  6  —  just  24 
hours  after  what  George  Hislop  has  call- 
ed the  gay  equivalent  of  "Crystal  Night 
in  Nazi  Germany  —  when  the  Jews 
found  out  where  they  were  really  at." 
At  approximately  1 1  pm  on  Thurs- 
day, February  5,  150  police  officers 
coordinated  by  police  intelligence 
descended  on  four  Toronto  steambaths, 
arresting  266  men  as  found-ins  in  a 
common  bawdy  house,  and  20  men  as 
keepers.  In  law,  a  common  bawdy 
house  can  be  anyplace  "resorted  to  for 
the  purposes  of  prostitution  or  the  prac- 
tice of  acts  of  indecency"  —  and  cops 
have  been  using  the  vaguely  worded 
statute  to  arrest  gay  men  in  bars,  baths 
and  private  homes.  But  this  was  a 
premeditated  attack  of  such  violence 


and  scope  that  as  we  go  to  press  one 
week  later  the  community  is  still 
seething  with  anger. 

The  anger  paid  off  early.  By  noon  on 
Friday,  a  hastily  arranged  meeting  at 
The  Body  Politic's  office  brought  to- 
gether representatives  from  the  Coali- 
tion for  Gay  Rights  in  Ontario,  the 
Right  to  Privacy  Committee,  the  Metro- 
politan Community  Church  —  and 
some  people  who  just  turned  up  because 
they  wanted  to  do  something.  By  4  pm 
the  organization  was  in  place  —  there 
was  a  sound  truck,  marshals  were 
recruited  from  graduates  of  the  gay  self- 
defence  course  and  4,000  leaflets  were 
ready  for  distribution. 

"Enough  is  Enough,"  they  said. 
"Protest.  Yongeand  Wellesley.  Mid- 
night tonight." 

Yonge  and  Wellesley  is  an  intersection 
at  the  heart  of  what  has  come  to  be 
known  as  Toronto's  gay  ghetto.  It  is 
also  one  of  the  busiest  intersections 
downtown.  By  midnight  there  were 
probably  300  people  there,  blowing 
whistles,  brandishing  homemade  signs, 
chanting  "No  more  raids!"  and  "Stop 
the  cops!"  Half  an  hour  later  that 
number  had  swollen  to  1,500,  and  with 
the  first  illegal  step  into  the  intersection 
the  street  was  ours.  The  police,  under- 
manned and  apparently  unprepared, 


could  do  little  but  re-route  traffic. 

Civil  disobedience  was  in  the  air,  peo- 
ple were  drunk  on  the  prospect  of  it,  on 
the  prospect  of  power  over  turf  we've 
liked  to  say  belongs  to  us,  but  realize  is 
really  ours  only  grudgingly,  and  on 
loan. 

Civil  disobedience  was  in  the  air,  and 
speaker  Brent  Hawkes  of  the  MCC  said 
this  was  the  time  for  it,  this  was  the 
night  when,  legal  or  not,  we'd  take  over 
the  streets.  TBP's  Chris  Bearchell  hit 
the  crowd  with  the  slogan  that  would  be 
taken  up  over  and  over  again:  "No 
more  shit!  No  more  shit!"  Writer  Burke 
Campbell  was  in  the  crowd  that  night. 
His  notes: 

"The  bars  empty  into  the  streets. 
Thousands  of  well-dressed  faggots  have 
had  enough.  'Stop  the  cops!  Stop  the 
cops!'  The  chants  continue,  build,  and 
go  on  and  on  and  on.  A  lot  of  us  have 
whistles  and  the  piercing  screams  travel 
like  sound  bullets  through  the  cold  night 
air.  Faces.  I  recognize  so  many.  A 
crowd  of  friends.  'We  should  do  this  all 
the  time,'  says  one  beautiful  woman.  I 
laugh.  We're  in  control  of  the  city.  The 
police  can't  do  anything..." 

CGRO  coordinator  Jim  Monk  says  it: 
we're  going  to  march.  South.  Into  the 

Continued  on  page  12 


Ttj^r 
PttULE. 


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Tr  f 

JUR 

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,,!»»• 


,.1 


MARCH  1981 


BODY  POLITIC/9 


Although  the  Friday  night  march 
down  Yonge  Street  was  the  most 
dramatic  example  of  community 
solidarity  with  the  286  men 
charged  in  the  raids,  subsequent 
events  seem  to  indicate  a  developing  and 
impressive  coalition  of  both  gays  and 
straights  shocked  by  the  abuse  of  police 
power. 

However,  the  many  individuals  and 
organizations  demanding  an  inquiry  in- 
to the  raids  are  so  far  being  disregarded 
by  officials. 

Attorney  General  Roy  McMurtry's 
response  to  a  Canadian  Civil  Liberties 
Association  request  for  an  independent 
inquiry  was  made  public  during  a 
heated  and  acrimonious  police  commis- 
sion meeting  February  12.  The  answer, 
coming  at  the  end  of  a  seven-page  letter 
full  of  outright  lies,  was  no.  Since  one 
speaker  after  another  had  called  for 
such  an  independent  inquiry,  there  were 
shocked  cries  of  "Shame!  Shame!"  and 
"Resign!"  after  the  announcement  was 
made. 

Writing  that  he  was  not  "satisfied 
that  there  has  been  an  accurate  report- 
ing of  these  events  by  the  media," 
McMurtry  went  on  to  say  that  "at  one 
of  the  four  premises  in  question  one 
police  officer  took  a  hammer  into  the 
place  with  him  but  it  was  not  used.  At 
another  establishment  one  crowbar  was 
taken  and  was  used  to  open  three 
lockers.  This  is  the  total  evidence 
available  with  respect  to  crowbars  and 
hammers." 

Since  the  raids,  there  have  been 
several  media  visits  to  the  baths,  all  of 
whom  have  recorded  extensive  damage, 
estimated  by  the  owners  at  about 
$35,000. 

McMurtry  also  claimed  there  was 
only  one  report  of  police  using  abusive 
language,  and  "no  evidence  of  anyone 
being  injured"  —  though  as  the  CCLA's 
Alan  Borovoy  said,  "It  is  easy  to 
understand  why  no  one  would  complain 
when  the  only  body  they  have  to  com- 
plain to  is  the  police  themselves." 

The  afternoon  police  commission 
meeting  attracted  more  than  100  people 
—  although  almost  all  of  them  were 
forced  to  stand  outside  in  freezing 
weather  for  all  but  the  last  half  hour  or 


"One  hammer,  one 
crowbar...  No  police 
harassment."  Amidst 
calls  for  an  inquiry, 
McMurtry  and  the 
Police  Commission 
stonewall 


so.  Only  the  press,  official  delegations 
and  a  few  early-birds  were  allowed  in- 
side —  and  the  police  reneged  on  a  pro- 
mise to  allow  everyone  else  access  to  the 
first-floor  cafeteria. 

Inside,  speaker  after  speaker  demand- 
ed an  independent  inquiry.  There  was  a 
delegation  led  by  Alderman  Gordon 
Cressy,  representing  a  majority  of  city 
council,  there  was  journalist  June 
Callwood,  retiring  MLA  Margaret 
Campbell,  St  George  Liberal  hopeful 
Bruce  McLeod,  St  George  NDP  can- 
didate Dan  Leckie,  the  CCLA's  Alan 
Borovoy,  Allan  Strader  and  Mary 
Eberts,  Jack  Layton  from  the  Working 
Group  on  Minority-Police  Relations,  a 
representative  from  several  downtown 
United  Churches,  and  several  gay 
speakers. 

Outside,  protesters  faced  a  wall  of 
police  security  that  included  a  mounted 
detachment  on  the  ready  in  a  nearby 
side  street.  Demonstrators  chanted 
"Sack  Jack,  Dump  Phil"  —  referring 
to  Police  Chief  Jack  Ackroyd  and 
Police  Commission  Chairman  Phil 
Givens.  One  man,  finally  succumbing  to 
an  impulse  everyone  was  feelinjL,__ 
grabbed  a  brick  —  but  cops  had  him 
under  arrest  before  he  could  throw  it. 

The  noise  from  the  protest  carried  up 
into  the  second  floor  meeting  room 


where  Givens,  Ackroyd  and  several 
police  commissioners  heard  MCC's 
Brent  Hawkes  say,  "Get  out  of  our 
clubs,  get  out  of  our  baths,  get  out  of 
our  homes  and  back  to  fighting  crime. 
Stop  killing  my  city." 

They  heard  Jack  Layton  call  for  the 
firing  of  Ackroyd  and  the  head  of  the 
Intelligence  Bureau,  and  the  resignation 
of  the  entire  police  commission. 

They  heard  George  Hislop  talk  about 
the  suicide  of  a  20-year-old  found-in  of 
last  year's  Hot  Tub  Club  raids.  "May 
his  death  be  on  your  consciences,"  he 
told  them. 

During  many  of  the  presentations, 
Commissioner  Winfield  McKay 
smirked,  or  conspicuously  yawned. 
Other  commissioners  talked  among 
themselves,  or  stared  impassively  as 
Brent  Hawkes  referred  them  to  a  Toron- 
to Star  story  that  day  revealing  that  the 
police  operating  budget  for  1981  is  re- 
questing a  total  of  $7.5  million  for  the 
intelligence  and  morality  bureaus 
together,  while  asking  for  a  scant  $1 
million  for  homicide  investigation. 

There  are  at  least  eight  unsolved 
murders  of  gay  men  in  Toronto. 

The  meeting  finally  dissolved  in  hoots 
and  jeers  as  Givens  told  the  crowd,  "We 
deny  any  allegations  of  police  harass- 
ment," and  said  there  was  no  need  for 
an  inquiry  and  there  would  be  no  in- 
quiry. 

Despite  the  commission's  dogged  in- 
transigence, there  was  no  doubt  gay 
people  found  heartening  the  wide  range 
of  support  they  were  hearing.  It  had 
begun  in  earnest  two  days  earlier  when 
more  than  1 ,000  people  packed  the 
auditorium  of  Jarvis  Collegiate.  Though 
most  of  them  were  gay,  they  were  hear- 
ing echoes  of  their  own  outrage  from 
straight  supporters  like  Fran  Endicott,  a 
black  Toronto  school  board  trustee  who 
spoke  eloquently  of  the  need  for  links 
with  all  minorities.  They  heard  Menno 
Vorster,  President  of  the  Toronto 
Teachers'  Federation,  remind  them  that 
the  Toronto  Board  had  sexual  orienta- 
tion protection  on  the  books,  "and 
now's  the  time  to  do  something  about 
it.  It's  none  of  anyone's  business  what 
happens  outside  the  classroom." 

It  was  a  foot-stomping,  turbulent, 


militant  crowd  that  bounced  a  Sun 
reporter  out  of  the  meeting,  called  for 
another,  larger  demonstration,  and  ar- 
ranged for  subcommittees  to  co- 
ordinate everything  from  fund-raising 
to  counselling  of  found-ins. 

Support  had  also  surfaced  that  morn- 
ing when  about  25  city  aldermen, 
writers,  and  civil  libertarians  were 
brought  together  by  Alderman  Gordon 
Cressy  to  demand  "some  speedy  ex- 
planations," and  to  extend  "their 
deepest  concern"  to  the  men  affected. 

"Please  be  assured,"  the  statement 
read,  "that  there  are  many  in  Toronto, 
among  whom  we  are  but  a  few,  who  will 
stand  behind  you." 

Among  the  endorsers  of  the  state- 
ment of  concern  were  writers  Margaret 
Atwood  and  June  Callwood,  retiring  St 
George  MLA  Margaret  Campbell, 
Robert  Fulford  of  Saturday  Night, 
lawyer  Morris  Manning,  former  NDP 
leader  Stephen  Lewis,  Clifford  Elliot  of 
Bloor  Street  United  Church,  and  ten 
city  aldermen. 

Notable  no-shows  so  far  on  the  sup- 
port list:  Toronto  mayor  Art  Eggleton, 
the  members  of  Metro  Council  except 
for  Scarborough  Mayor  Gus  Harris  and 
Alderman  Gordon  Cressy,  and  the 
leaders  of  the  three  major  provincial 
parties. 

The  Globe  and  Mail  editorialized  on 
the  issue,  calling  the  police  action  "ug- 
ly," and  saying  it  was  "more  like  the 
bully-boy  tactics  of  a  Latin  American 
republic  ...  than  of  anything  that  has  a 
place  in  Canada." 

Support  even  had  its  surreal  side.  Ken 
Campbell  of  the  vehemently  anti-gay 
Renaissance  International  denounced 
the  raid  —  though  he  clarified  his  stand 
in  a  letter  to  the  Globe  February  12 
which  ended  "God  bless  'the  boys  in 
blue'  and  God  have  mercy  on  ...  that 
'bath-house  crowd.'" 

CHUM  news  director  Dick  Smyth 
traded  in  his  long-time  pro-cop  stance 
for  a  stinging  indictment  of  police 
"ham-handed  brutality  and  Iunk- 
headed  vandalism."  Smyth  called  them 
"pigs"  on  the  air,  and  charged  them 
with  crezting  "a  polarization  that  will 
be  a  problem  in  Toronto  for  years  to 
come."D 


Challenge:  Outside,  protestors  jeer  cops;  in- 
side, CCLA  's  Alan  Borovoy  demands  inquiry. 


10/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


r 


U 


If  ■■    bom  11  o'clock  these  two 
|  ■■    guys  came  to  the  door  unci 
m  ■   asked  for  a  room  and  a 
■H  locker.  They  paid,  and  1 
m    ■  gave  //7em  //?e/>  change,  and 
since  we  were  full  I  gave  locker  25  to  the 
guy  wanting  the  room  and  put  him  on 
the  waiting  list,  and  I  went  on  to  the 
next  customer. 

"A  few  minutes  later  both  guys  came 
right  into  the  kitchen  and  asked  for 
their  money  back.  I  suspected  a  robbery 
and  called  for  Tony,  the  supervisor,  and 
then  they  grabbed  me  and  told  me  to 
stay  where  I  was.  When  Tony  came  in 
they  grabbed  him  too  and  he  shouted 
out  to  call  the  police.  I  looked  out  the 
window  and  saw  all  these  men  pouring 
in  through  the  door  and  some  of  them 
were  in  uniform,  and  I  said  7  don  7 
think  that  'II  be  necessary. '  ' ' 

Cashier  at  the  Richmond  Street 
Health  Emporium,  recalling  the  events 
of  February  5. 

'  7  was  in  a  room  with  someone  and  I 
heard  a  noise.  I  got  up  to  open  the  door 
but  it  burst  open  and  a  guy  in  plain 
clothes  pushed  in  and  shoved  me  up 
against  the  wall,  my  face  pushed  hard 
into  the  wall.  My  nose  was  lacerated 
and  bloodied.  The  cop  kept  punching 
me  in  the  lower  back  and  pulling  my 
hair  and  saying  '  You  're  disgusting,  fag- 
got. Look  at  this  dirty  place. ' 

'  7  was  choked,  and  something  was 
jabbed  into  my  neck.  Before  they  took 
us  out  of  the  room,  they  used  a  pen  to 
gouge  the  room  number  into  the  backs 
of  our  hands. 

"I  was  naked.  They  herded  me  into 
the  shower  room  with  about  8  other 
men  and  we  had  to  stand  against  the 
wall  with  both  hands  up  against  the 
wall.  1  couldn  7  see  anything  but  I  could 
hear  a  guy  choking,  and  then  a  cop  said, 
'If  you  're  having  trouble  breathing  we 
can  give  you  trouble  with  your  spleen  or 
kidneys. ' 

"I  could  hear  them  moving  around, 
kicking  things,  overturning  things. 
Someone  said  'Too  bad  the  place 
doesn  7  catch  fire,  we  'd  have  to  catch 
them  escaping  custody. '  Somebody  else 
said,  'Too  bad  the  showers  aren  7  hook- 
ed up  to  gas. ' 

'  7  was  finally  called  to  face  a  guy  sit- 
ting in  the  locker  room.  I  was  still  nude. 
He  looked  at  the  blood  on  my  face  and 
said  'Get  that  man  washed  up. '  After  I 
showered,  he  said  'Add  obstruct  police 
and  assault  police  to  that  guy. '  They  did 
that.  But  he  never  identified  himself  as  a 
cop.  I  was  never  told  I  was  under 
arrest. " 

Testimony  of  one  found-in  at  the  Bar- 
racks, describing  the  February  5  raid. 

It  was,  of  course,  also  happening  at 
The  Club  and  The  Roman.  Four  of 
Toronto's  five  gay  baths  were  pillaged 
in  about  three  hours  —  the  climax,  ac- 
cording to  police,  of  six  months  of  in- 
vestigations which  led  them  to  conclude 
that  "acts  of  prostitution  and  indecent 
acts"  had  taken  place. 

It  was  a  pillage.  The  damage  to  the 
premises  is  now  estimated  at  $35,000. 
Photographs  taken  within  hours  of  the 
raids  vividly  corroborate  the  testimony 
of  men  who  say  plainclothes  cops  iden- 
tified only  by  red  dots  somewhere  on 
their  clothing  used  hammers,  crowbars 
and  shears  to  smash  through  doors, 
shatter  mirrors,  rip  apart  matrcsscs  and 
wrench  the  doors  off  lockers.  Cops 
kicked  holes  in  corridor  walls. 

It  was  a  pillage  authorized  from  the 
top.  Police  Chief  Jack  Ackroyd  says  he- 
approved  both  the  investigation  and  the 
raids  —  and  in  one  swift  stroke  des- 
troyed whatever  credibility  he  had  as  the 
"liberal  friend  to  minorities"  chosen  to 
replace  former  chief  Adamson.  As  well. 


Attorney  General  Roy 
McMurtry:  '  'One  police  of- 
ficer took  a  hammer  into  the 
place  with  him  but  it  was  not 
used.  At  another  establish- 
ment, one  crowbar  was  taken 
and  was  used  to  open  three 
lockers.  This  is  the  total 
evidence ...." 


the  rumour  is  now  afoot  that  approval 
for  the  raids  came  finally  from  Attorney 
General  Roy  McMurtry  himself. 

Whatever  the  level  of  authorization, 
the  cops  seemed  to  feel  they  were 
operating  with  a  virtual  carte  blanche. 
Verbal  harassment  was  common  —  men 
were  called  faggots,  vaseline  jokes  were 
made,  a  couple  of  officers  joked  about 
being  sure  they'd  find  a  teacher  and 
when  they  did  they'd  spread  the  word 
around.  Robert  Trow,  a  news  staffer  at 
this  paper  and  a  paramedic  with  Hassle 
Free  Clinic,  was  arrested  and  charged  at 
the  Richmond  Street  Baths  even  though 
he  was  on  duty  as  a  Hassle  Free  em- 
ployee giving  free  VD  checks  to  anyone 
who  wanted  them.  He  has  since  been  in- 
formed that  the  city's  health  department 
will  require  the  alleged  keepers  to 
undergo  compulsory  VD  checks,  and 
that  Hassle  Free  should  prepare  itself 
for  a  few  days  of  increased  business.  As 
well,  the  found-ins  will  be  served  with 
notices  recommending  VD  tests,  but 
they  are  not  compulsory.  "The  caller 
was  a  little  nonplussed,"  he  reports, 
"when  I  told  her  I'd  be  among  the  peo- 
ple getting  a  notice  to  have  a  test." 

Another  disturbing  allegation  comes 
from  employees  at  both  The  Club  and 


The  Richmond.  They  say  that  though 
the  police  claimed  to  have  search  war- 
rants with  them  —  in  neither  case  were 
they  shown  when  requested.  As  well,  at 
the  Richmond,  the  cops  began  answer- 
ing phone  calls  after  the  raid,  telling 
callers  things  like,  "Michael's  tied  up 
right  now.  Want  to  come  down  and  see 
his  rope  burns?",  or  "Larry's  around 
the  corner  with  a  rat  in  his  mouth." 

There  are  also  allegations  that  some 
of  the  police  investigation  that  preceded 
the  raid  consisted  of  illegal  police 
tampering  with  mail.  Peter  Maloney,  an 
executive  member  of  the  Coalition  for 
Gay  Rights  in  Ontario  and  a  vocal 
police  critic,  says  he  was  tipped  off  by  a 
post-office  employee  that  mail  address- 
ed to  him  and  three  gay  baths  was  being 
intercepted  and  routed  to  the 
employee's  supervisor.  Since  the  tip-off, 
Maloney  says,  mail  addressed  to  him 
has  arrived  pre-opened,  and  some  of  his 
mail  has  ended  up  at  The  Club  Bath's 
business  office. 

Maloney  complained  to  federal  Solic- 
itor General  Robert  Kaplan,  who  has 
since  said  that  neither  the  RCMP  nor 
any  federal  government  agency  is  ex- 
amining Maloney's  mail  —  but  admit- 
ted that  his  office  did  not  look  into  the 


activities  of  any  other  police  force.  It 
would  presumably  be  the  Toronto  police 
who  are  intercepting  Maloney's  mail. 

It  is  possible  the  police  were  after 
mail  that  would  provide  links  between 
baths  here  and  in  the  United  States  — 
the  original  police  press  release  makes 
reference  to  "club  records  showing  an 
association  to  persons  in  the  USA." 

Police  have  been  eager  to  discover  a 
link  to  organized  crime  in  the  States  — 
though  so  far  they've  had  to  admit  only 
that  they've  found  evidence  linking 
"these  clubs  to  international  clubs  that 
are  in  the  States."  Presumably  a  link  to 
"organized  crime"  would  provide  a 
reason  scary  enough  to  justify  the 
massive  scope  of  the  raids. 

It  is  no  secret,  however,  that  The 
Club  Toronto  is  part  of  The  Club  Bath 
Chain.  The  American  enterprise  has 
headquarters  in  Miami,  and  baths  in 
most  major  American  cities,  as  well  as 
Toronto,  London  and  Vancouver.  As 
one  local  activist  put  it,  "It's  like 
'discovering'  that  Colonel  Sanders 
restaurants  have  'connections'  in  the 
US.  The  whole  thing  looks  like  a  des- 
perate ploy  to  justify  something  that 
can't  be  justified." 


Deja  vu:  The  Truxx  raid,  Montreal  1977 


The  raids  of  February  5  and  the  ensuing 
massive  and  turbulent  protest  by  Toron- 
to gays  do  not  mark  the  first  time  that  a 
quasi-terroristic  attack  by  police  on  gay 
establishments  has  sent  thousands  of 
angry  gays  into  city  streets  in  an  illegal 
demonstration. 

In  the  early  hours  of  Saturday,  Oc- 
tober 22,  1977,  more  than  50  police, 
clad  in  riot  gear  and  armed  with  ma- 
chine guns,  burst  into  Truxx  and  Le 
Mystique,  two  gay  men's  bars  in  Mon- 
treal. On  that  occasion  146  men  were  ar- 
rested and  charged  with  being  found-ins 
in  a  common  bawdy  house.  The  victims 
were  held  in  crowded  police  cells  for 
hours  without  bail  and  were  forced  to 
submit  to  VD  tests.  News  of  the  raids 
ripped  through  the  gay  community  the 
following  day  and,  in  the  space  of  about 
six  hours,  the  Association  pour  les 
droits  dc  la  commurnuitc  gaic  tin 
(.)uchec  (Quebec  m  community  rightt 
association)  blanketed  the  ban  and 


baths  with  leaflets  and  organized  a  pro- 
test for  that  evening. 

By  midnight,  2,000  gays  had  flooded 
into  the  intersection  of  Stanley  and  Ste- 
Catherine  streets.  They  fought  with 
police  who  were  attacking  the  crowd  to 
re-open  the  street.  The  mass  demonstra- 
tion was  not  cleared  away  for  about 
three  hours.  Four  men  were  arrested. 

As  in  Toronto,  the  raids  and  the 
angry  response  of  the  gay  community 
precipitated  a  public  furor.  Civil  rights 
organizations  and  the  media  denounced 
the  heavy-handed  police  tactics  and  ac- 
cused the  Montreal  police  of  discrim- 
inatory behaviour  towards  the  city's  gay 
population. 

A  defence  committee  was  quickly  set 
up  and  a  public  meeting  to  discuss  the 
strategy  ol  defence  drew  XX)  people    \n 
but  one  of  the  1 46 accused  pleaded  not 
guilty. 

Incredibly,  the  accused  round  ini 
have  yel  to  have  then  du  m  court,  I  he 


owner  of  Truxx,  who  was  charged  with 
being  the  keeper  of  a  common  bawd> 
house,  was  found  guilty  last  April  2. 
However,  the  judge  who  presided  over 
the  trial  conducted  himself  in  such  a 
prejudicial  fashion,  and  produced  a 
judgment  so  lacking  in  any  explanation 
of  why  a  gay  bar  should  be  considered 
to  be  a  common  bawdy  house  within  the 
meaning  of  the  la* .  that  the  coin  iction 
has  been  appealed  to  the  Quebec  Court 
of  Appeals. 

It  is  by  no  means  certain  that  the  ac- 
cused found-ins  in  the  Truw  case  will  be 
convicted.  In  a  similar  case,  arising  out 
of  a  police  raid  on  Sauna  David  earlier 
this  year  in  Montreal,  a  number  of 
pai ions  have  been  acquitted  of  charges 
of  gross  indecenc] 

But  community  interest  in  the  Truw 
case  lell  off  steeph  after  the  first  head) 
weeks    I  Ins  seems  to  he  attributable  to 
the  succession  of  raids  which  followed, 
numbing  people  to  the  shock  o\  such  in- 
vasions,  and  to  the  protracted  period 
between  the  raid  and  the  trial  of  the 
l  uiw  owner:  two  and  ■  halt  years. 


MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/11 


1 


I 


GYM  &  SAUNA 

TORONTO 
MONDAY,  LOCKER  $2 

TUESDAY,  ROOM  $4  LOCKER  $2 

3:30  —  1 1 :30 


12'/2  Elm  St.flonewoyl 
West  of  Yonge 
2  blocks  south  of  Gerrard 
(416)  977*  5997 


Phalanx  of  blue  on  the  steps  at  Queen 's  Park  (with  two  missing  their  badges):  Deputy  Chief  Marks  investi- 
gated complaints  that  cops  removed  all  their  ID;  he  says  none  did.  The  investigation  lasted  one  day. 


continued  from  page  9 

heart  of  the  city,  and  towards  police  52 
Division  —  the  concrete  and  glass  for- 
tress that  only  hours  before  held  hun- 
dreds of  frightened  and  angry  men. 

South.  It  was  a  change  in  plans.  Rally 
organizers  had  intended  to  head  for 
police  headquarters  at  590  Jarvis,  but 
the  mood  of  the  crowd  was  inexorably 
South,  where  Toronto  could  see  us. 

The  scene  is  surreal.  Yonge  Street, 
usually  a  river  of  bumper-to-bumper 
traffic,  is  an  empty  canyon  echoing  to 
the  shouts,  screams  and  whistles  of  an 
advancing  crowd  the  full  width  of  the 
street.  The  occasional  car  the  police 
haven't  stopped  somehow  makes  it  onto 
the  street,  stops,  can't  turn  around,  gets 
swallowed  up.  A  man  jumps  up  onto 
the  roof  of  one  of  them  and  does  a 
disco  turn  before  leaping  back  into  the 
crowd. 

The  first  signs  of  trouble  come  just 
north  of  Dundas  Street. 

Cop  cars  are  parked  in  the  middle  of 
the  street,  angled  to  form  a  kind  of  bar- 
ricade. It  doesn't  work.  A  few  sharp 
blows  and  a  windshield  cracks.  Two 
men  stand  and  piss  on  one  of  the  cars. 
Suddenly  there  is  a  scuffle  beside 
Cinema  2000  —  it's  unclear  what  hap- 
pened but  it  seems  a  straight  man  has 
attacked  one  of  the  marchers.  A  cop 
tries  to  intervene  and  all  hell  breaks 
loose  —  the  crowd  apparently  thinks  the 
cop  is  the  attacker  and  surges  at  him, 
fists  flying.  Three  other  cops  try  to 
force  themselves  through  the  crowd  but 
simply  end  up  being  trapped  with  the 
first  one,  pinned  against  a  store  wall, 
hopelessly  outnumbered  but  fighting 
back,  and  it  looks  like  the  first  blood  of 
the  evening  will  flow  here  —  until 
enough  marshals  force  their  way  in  and 
break  it  up. 

The  atmosphere  gets  uglier  —  by  this 
time  the  march  has  attracted  a  peri- 
pheral crowd  of  20  to  30  straight  men. 
As  the  crowd  surges  towards  52  Division 
chanting  "Fuck  you,  52!  Fuck  you, 
52!";  they  counter  with  "Fuck  the 
queers!  Fuck  the  queers!"  In  a  final 
desperate  and  quixotic  gesture  they  link 
arms  and  try  to  block  University 
Avenue.  By  that  time  it's  30  against 
3,000  and  it's  no  contest  —  a  short 
scuffle,  and  they  scatter. 

We  reach  52.  The  stabbing  lights  of 
the  TV  cameras  pick  out  an  astonishing 
sight  —  cops,  195  of  them,  standing 
shoulder  to  shoulder  completely  sur- 
rounding the  front  of  the  building.  Our 
line  surges  up  and  slaps  against  theirs 
but  theirs  doesn't  break  —  even  when 
the  crowd  gives  them  the  Nazi  salute, 
even  when  the  crowd  spits  in  their  faces. 

There  is  one  target  left  and  someone 
has  only  to  suggest  it.  The  name  comes 
booming  out  over  the  sound  system: 
Queen's  Park. 

The  Ontario  legislature  is  a  scant  10 
minutes  away,  and  the  focus  of  a  par- 
ticular hatred  in  the  last  six  weeks  since 
all  three  political  parties  backed  away 


from  an  opportunity  to  legislate  human 
rights  for  gay  people. 

The  crowd  seethes  up  University 
Avenue,  and  the  front  line  of  marshals 
is  having  more  and  more  difficulty  try- 
ing to  contain  it.  They  link  arms,  stret- 
ching themselves  across  the  front,  but  as 
the  thousands  of  marchers  take  their 
first  step  onto  the  vast  expanse  of  lawn 
that  sweeps  up  to  the  legislature,  the 
front  line  crumbles  and  nothing  can 
hold  people  back.  They  run,  hundreds 
of  black  figures  against  the  snow, 
heading  straight  for  the  massive  oak 
doors  of  our  legislative  assembly. 

They  get  there  before  the  cops  do  and 
for  a  few  thrilling  minutes  dozens  of 
bodies  throw  themselves  repeatedly 
against  the  doors,  and  even  people  half- 
way back  in  the  crowd  report  seeing  the 
doors  vibrating  in  the  probing  light  of 
the  television  cameras,  and  hearing  the 
hollow  booming  of  bodies  thudding 
against  the  barriers. 

But  that  sound  is  the  signal  for  the 
cops  to  come  down  with  a  viciousness 
they'd  kept  in  check  till  then.  A  wedge 
of  some  20  officers  forces  its  way 
through  the  crowd,  and  punching,  kick- 
ing and  shoving  they  beat  the  crowd 
back.  One  man's  face  is  bloodied. 
Another  man  is  shouting  that  his  sister 
has  been  hit  over  and  over  again  by  a 
cop.  But  somehow  the  clash  has  left 
both  sides  stunned,  and  organizers  take 
the  opportunity  to  encourage  people  to 
leave  —  in  groups,  for  their  own  safety. 

Although  numbers  are  dwindling 
rapidly,  there  are  still  enough  people 
together  at  Yonge  Street  to  tie  up  traf- 
fic. But  the  ugliest  scenes  of  the  night 
are  reserved  for  Yonge  and  Bloor  —  by 
that  time,  cops  and  straight  thugs  far 
outnumber  what  few  marchers  are  left. 
The  straights  are  shouting  insults,  and  I 
watch  as  half  a  dozen  cops  completely 
surround  a  man,  drag  him  to  the 
ground  and  begin  kicking  and  punch- 
ing. A  TBP  photographer  who  tries  to 
photograph  the  scene  is  hauled  to  the 
ground  by  his  hair,  his  flash  attachment 
smashed,  his  glasses  broken.  He  is  later 
charged  with  breach  of  the  peace.  It 
turns  out  the  man  being  beaten  was  one 
of  the  found-ins. 

It  was  about  2:30  am,  Saturday, 
February  7.  Eleven  people  had  been  ar- 
rested during  the  preceding  two  and  a 
half  hours  —  2  for  assaulting  a  police 
officer,  1  for  damage  to  public  proper- 
ty, 1  on  a  drug  charge  and  7  with  breach 
of  the  peace.  One  policeman  was  slight- 
ly injured.  At  least  one  cop  car  had  its 
windshield  cracked  and  its  headlights 
kicked  in.  A  streetcar  had  four  of  its 
windows  smashed.  But  most  of  the 
damage  was  on  the  other  side. 

Complaints  about  police  brutality  will 
probably  go  nowhere,  however,  largely 
because  most  cops  rendered  themselves 
unidentifiable  by  removing  their  badges 
and  flash  numbers.  Although  photo- 
graphs of  the  events  show  officers  with 
continued  on  page  16 


12/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


Advice  group  on  race 
to  consider  gay  rep 

TORONTO  —  Mayor  Art  Eggleton  has 
set  up  a  committee  to  deal  with  commu- 
nity and  race  relations  in  the  city,  and  a 
special  consultant  hired  to  advise  the 
committee  said  that  it  will  consider  ap- 
pointing a  representative  of  the  gay  and 
lesbian  communities  later  in  the  year. 

Toronto  City  Council  approved  the 
formation  of  the  committee  January  29, 
fulfilling  one  of  Eggleton's  campaign 
promises  from  last  November's  munici- 
pal election.  The  committee  is  com- 
posed of  13  members,  many  of  them 
drawn  from  Toronto's  black,  native 
people  and  East  Indian  communities. 
Eggleton  has  also  selected  a  15-member 
resource  group  which  includes  Police 
Chief  Jack  Ackroyd,  Metro  Police 
Association  President  Paul  Walter  and  a 
member  of  the  Metro  Toronto  Police 
Commission. 

The  focus  of  the  committee  at  its  first 
stage  will  be  race  relations  and  the  prob- 
lems of  the  visible  minorities.  Special 
advisor  Dr  Dan  Hill,  former  chairman 
of  the  Ontario  Human  Rights  Commis- 
sion and  now  a  $700-a-day  professional 
race  consultant,  said  that  the  committee 
will  start  by  finding  out  how  many 
members  of  visible  minorities  are  em- 
ployed by  the  city  of  Toronto  itself. 
"Charity  begins  at  home,"  he  said. 

Later  in  the  year,  the  committee  will 
add  more  members  to  deal  with  prob- 
lems of  "ethno-cultural  and  other 
community  groups."  Asked  if  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  gay  and  lesbian  commu- 
nities would  be  appointed  at  that  time, 
Hill  said,  "That's  certainly  one  of  the 
groups  being  considered." 

The  terms  of  reference  of  the  new 
committee  allows  it  not  only  to  "active- 


ly further  the  letter  and  spirit"  of  cur- 
rent federal  and  provincial  human  rights 
legislation  but  also,  at  the  suggestion  of 
Ward  7  alderman  Gordon  Cressy,  to 
work  to  "strengthen"  such  legislation. 

Ed  Jackson  □ 

Protect  gays, 
white  paper  urges 

VANCOUVER  —  The  BC  Human 
Rights  Commission  has  proposed 
sweeping  reforms  to  the  provincial 
Human  Rights  Code,  including  a  spe- 
cific provision  banning  discrimination 
based  on  sexual  orientation. 

The  "white  paper"  proposals  also  in- 
clude protection  against  discrimination 
based  on  physical  handicap,  a  provision 
prohibiting  mandatory  retirement  at  age 
65,  and  explicit  protection  against  sex- 
ual harassment  on  the  job.  At  present, 
the  code  offers  limited  protection  to 
gays  and  the  disabled  under  a  general 
prohibition  of  "discrimination  without 
reasonable  cause." 

Vince  Manis,  Vice-President  of  the 
Society  for  Political  Action  for  Gay 
People  (SPAG),  was  pleased  with  the 
motion,  and  said  SPAG  will  lobby  the 
Ministry  of  Labour  to  have  the  propo- 
sals brought  before  the  legislature.  Even 
if  changes  are  made  in  the  code,  how- 
ever, local  activists  do  not  expect  sexual 
orientation  to  be  included,  given  the 
Social  Credit  government's  firm  opposi- 
tion to  gay  rights. 

Robert  Trow  □ 

TBP  back  in  court 

The  Body  Politic  will  appear  before  the 
Ontario  Court  of  Appeal  March  4.  At 
issue  is  whether  the  paper  should  be  sent 
back  to  court  for  a  second  trial  on  the 
same  charge.  □ 


Teacher  is  turfed  from  collegiate 
for  putting  gay  pupil  out  of  class 


WINNIPEG  —  A  University  of  Winni- 
peg collegiate  instructor  who  asked  a 
gay  student  to  leave  his  class  because  he 
"didn't  want  a  homosexual  in  the 
room"  was  released  from  his  teaching 
contract  in  early  February. 

On  January  14,  David  Dueck,  a  colle- 
giate Mathematics  and  Film  Studies  in- 
structor, asked  student  Greg  Synenko  to 
leave  the  film  studies  class  in  order  to 


~f 


UNIVERSITY 


Greg  Synenko:  asked  to  leave  for  being  gay 

"protect"  a  guest  lecturer. 

"I  feel  that  if  Greg  Synenko,  who  is 
gay,  sat  beside  the  lecturer,  the  class 
might  think  that  the  lecturer  was  also  a 
homosexual,"  Dueck  said.  "I  didn't 
think  it  would  be  fair  to  the  lecturer." 


Collegiate  dean  John  Vanderstoel  de- 
scribed Dueck's  actions  as  "a  shock, 
contrary  to  the  entire  philosophy  of  the 
school."  Vanderstoel  told  TBP  he  con- 
sidered the  incident  "a  grave  error  on 
the  part  of  the  instructor,"  and  added, 
"We  are  taking  a  strong  position  on  it." 

Dueck  asked  to  be  released  from  his 
contract  following  a  meeting  between 
Vanderstoel  and  other  faculty  members. 

The  incident  was  widely  publicized  in 
Canadian  campus  newspapers  after  a 
report  in  the  University  of  Winnipeg 
newspaper  was  picked  up  by  Canadian 
University  Press  (CUP). 

Dueck,  a  staunch  Mennonite,  refused 
to  speak  to  TBP,  but  told  CUP  he  is  not 
against  homosexuals.  He  said  he  feels 
"sorry  for  them  because  I  know  they 
are  not  going  to  be  as  happy  and 
satisfied  as  I  am."  He  added,  however, 
"I  do  think  they  encourage  other  people 
to  take  the  gay  habit." 

Ironically,  the  guest  lecturer,  film- 
maker David  Demchuck,  is  openly  gay 
himself,  and  had  been  invited  by 
Synenko  to  speak  to  the  class. 

Synenko  is  head  of  the  University  of 
Winnipeg  Gay  Students'  Association, 
and  is  openly  gay  in  his  school.  The  col- 
legiate, a  private  high  school  of  grades 
1 1  and  12  students,  is  part  of  the 
University  of  Winnipeg. 

Synenko  reported  that  reaction  from 
staff  and  other  students  has  been 
positive.  The  collegiate  student  council 
offered  him  its  full  support. 

After  the  incident,  Synenko  quipped, 
"I'd  like  to  ask  Dueck  how  happy  he  is 
now!" 

Robert  Trow 


Mother's  plea  to  school  board  reopens  debate  on  ban  on  bias 


TORONTO  —  An  angry  mother  has  ac- 
cused the  city's  board  of  education  of 
"giving  the  homosexuals  everything 
they  wanted,"  and  will  withdraw  her 
two  children  from  school  unless  board 
anti-discrimination  policy  is  reversed. 

Lynne  Lake  made  an  emotional  plea 
to  the  school  programs  committee 
January  26.  She  demanded  that  trustees 
rescind  a  motion  passed  last  September 
18  which  prohibits  "bias  on  the  basis  of 
sex  or  sexual  orientation,"  and  which 
specifically  permits  "discussion  of 
homosexuality"  in  schools.  The  motion 
also  called  for  a  "report  on  whether 
there  is  e\  idencc  of  discrimination  and 
prejudice  against  homosexuals  in  the 
s\stem"  as  a  prelude  to  further  delib- 
erations over  establishing  ongoing 
liaison  with  Toronto's  gay  men  and  les- 
bians. Only  lour  ol  twenty-three 
trustees  voted  against  the  motion  at  the 
time. 

One  of  its  chief  opponents  was  Ward 
I  trustee  Alex  (  humak.  There  has  been 
a  municipal  election  since  September, 
but  (humak  is  hack  championing  the 
bigotry  of  some  voters.  In  response  to 
1  ake's  lineal,  he  moved  that  the  non- 
discrimination policy  be  abandoned. 

During  a  vigorous  nmets  minute 

debate,  hoard  member  Dong  I  ittlc 

(Ward  1 1  threatened  to  sue  Mrs  l  .ike  tor 

slandering  the  New  Democratic  Party, 
lua  lanuais  letter  to  board  chairperson 
Irene  Atkinson,  she  had  accused  the 
NDP  ol  "exploitin  iy)  issue." 

I  he  letter  suggested  that  i* . i \  activist 
lohn  Argue,  Metro  Ibroato  NDP  chaii 
person,  used  political  pressure  to  twins 


the  vote.  Argue  had  been  working  for 
nearly  two  years  to  persuade  the  board 
of  the  need  for  formal  liaison  with  les- 
bian and  gay  groups. 

Ward  3  trustee  Tony  Silipo  replied  to 
Lake's  charge  by  pointing  out  that  at 
least  nine  of  the  nineteen  trustees  who 
supported  the  September  18  motion  had 


'->%    ' 

W  : 

^1 

/ 

Former  board  chairperson  Fiona 
Nelson  told  the  January  26  meeting  that 
the  board  "does  not  condone  homosex- 
uality in  any  way."  This  view  was 
echoed  by  trustee  Little.  He  insisted  that 
"homosexuality  is  not  an  equal  and 
valid  lifestyle."  But  both  he  and  Nelson 
agreed  that  the  policy  should  stand. 

Chumak  finally  agreed  to  withdraw 
his  motion  and  raise  the  matter  again  at 
a  special  meeting  of  the  full  board 
February  23  at  6:30  pm.  Meanwhile,  the 
board's  solicitor  will  be  asked  to  inter- 
pret "sexual  orientation,"  a  term 
Chumak  says  he  doesn't  understand. 


Several  progressive  trustees  are  plan- 
ning to  invite  a  well-known  civil  liber- 
tarian, a  theologian  and  a  psychiatrist  to 
address  the  February  23  meeting  of  the 
full  board.  They  hope  to  counteract  the 
anticipated  resurgence  of  homophobic 
reaction. 

Four  recently  elected  trustees  revealed 
considerable  opposition  to  gay  rights 
during  the  January  26  meeting.  They 
were  Nola  Crewe  (Ward  8),  David  Moll 
and  Tom  Jakobek  (both  from  Ward  s») 
and  David  Stevenson  (Separate  School 
representative  from  Area  2). 

Roger  Spalding 

Battle  ol  the  mailslots: 
anti-gay  and  pro-gay 
leaflets  in  Toronto 


,0110 


Lynne  Lake:  gays  '  'got  what  they  wanted' 
no  ndp  affiliation. 

(  humak  warned  his  colleagues  that 
failure  to  compl)  with  I  ake's  demands 
"would  reopen  this  whole  unfortunate 
topic  again."  I  le  alluded  to  length) 
hoard  meetings  in  September  when 

(  hristian  fundamentalists  harangued 
trustees  toi  considering  a  ga)  liaison 
committee.  His  remark  sparked  mur- 
murs ol  "Amen"  from  several  members 
ol  the  audience,  familial  faces  from  the 
eai  liei  controvei 


M*N*-M  1;..  give  up. 
Metro  gaVs 

w    -rs-"g  »'• 

>  \V>    •  ■"  ■    ' 


S*v 


"**>, 


MARCH  1981 


[Hi  ^ 

a?* 


"""""■"-■^--^     "' 
(fa  .%? 


Gays  closed  out: 
Charter  of  Rights 

OTTAWA  —  After  being  subjected  to 
months  of  intensive  lobbying,  the 
federal  government  has  given  in  to 
demands  that  disabled  persons  be  in- 
cluded in  the  proposed  Charter  of 
Rights,  part  of  the  government's  con- 
stitutional package.  But  it  has  steadfast- 
ly refused  to  include  similar  protection 
for  gay  people. 

The  Special  Joint  House  of  Com- 
mons-Senate Committee  on  the  Con- 
stitution agreed  January  28  to  include 
"physical  and  mental  disability"  in  the 
section  of  the  Charter  which  lists  the 
prohibited  grounds  of  discrimination. 
But  the  next  night  the  committee 
defeated,  by  a  vote  of  21  to  2,  an 
amendment  by  NDP  justice  critic  Svend 


Robinson  to  add  sexual  orientation  to 
that  same  section. 

Voting  for  the  amendment  were  the 
two  NDP  members  of  the  committee, 
Robinson  (MP  for  Burnaby)  and  Lome 
Nystrom  (MP  for  Yorkton-Melville).  All 
the  Liberals,  Conservatives  and  senators 
on  the  committee  voted  against  it.  There 
was  little  debate. 

In  his  arguments,  Robinson  pointed 
out  that  the  Canadian  Human  Rights 
Commission  supported  the  inclusion  of 
sexual  orientation,  as  did  other  wit- 
nesses before  the  committee  and  many 
non-gay  associations.  He  singled  out  the 
Canadian  Teachers'  Federation,  whose 
support  he  termed  "significant." 

Robinson  urged  the  committee  to 
follow  Quebec's  example  "and 
recognize  that  in  a  civilized  society,  in 
today's  society,  discrimination  or 
unreasonable  distinction  on  the  grounds 


of  sexual  orientation  should  not  be 
tolerated." 

In  his  only  contribution  to  the  debate, 
Justice  Minister  Jean  Chretien,  appear- 
ing as  a  witness,  declined  to  define  the 
terms  "marital  status"  and  "sexual 
orientation." 

"It  is  because  of  the  problem  of  the 
definition  of  these  words,"  he  said, 
"that  we  do  not  think  they  should  be  in 
the  constitution...  I  am  not  going  to 
venture  to  tell  you  what  is  sexual  orien- 
tation. I  am  not  interested...." 

Chretien  added  that  "socially,  and  in 
terms  of  law,  it  is  a  very  difficult  area." 

Later  Robinson  asked  Chretien  if  he 
would  be  prepared  to  consider  the  inclu- 
sion of  sexual  orientation  in  federal 
legislation  like  the  Canadian  Human 
Rights  Act.  Chretien  responded,  "The 
door  is  not  closed." 

David  GarmaiseD 


Sun  puts  heat  on  Calgary  mayor 
after  his  appearance  at  gay  ball 


CALGARY  —  Ralph  Klein  has  becomt 
the  First  mayor  outside  Ontario  to  ap- 
pear at  a  gay  event  and  welcome  "law- 
abiding  gay  people"  into  the  wider  com- 
munity —  but  his  brief  appearance  at  a 
drag  ball  January  10  is  being  used  by 
the  Calgary  Sun  both  to  discredit  him 
and  to  vilify  the  city's  gay  community. 

Klein  had  attended  a  dinner  spon- 
sored by  the  Imperial  Court  of  the 
Chinook  Arch  at  the  invitation  of  Bruce- 
May,  then  president  of  Gay  Informa- 
tion and  Resources  Calgary  (GIRC).  The 
Court  event  is  an  annual  affair  at  which 
an  Emperor  and  Empress  are  elected  to 
"rule  over"  the  city's  gay  population. 
This  year,  the  ceremonies  attracted 
about  500  people. 

Klein,  a  former  television  journalist 
elected  last  fall  as  a  "people's  mayor," 
made  a  brief  speech,  praising  the  good 
work  GIRC  had  been  doing  in  the  com- 
munity, and  announcing  that  "law- 
abiding  gay  people"  were  welcome  in 
the  city  of  Calgary.  May  says  Klein  got 
a  three-minute  standing  ovation,  and 
then  left  immediately  for  other  official 
duties. 

It  was  a  15-minute  appearance  at 
most,  and  meant  to  be  a  private  affair. 
The  media  had  not  been  invited.  Klein 
had  barely  exited,  however,  before 
someone  calling  himself  Derek  Green 


rr  makes  ^^, 


iSn£thaJ 
A  MAN.'! 


was  phoning  the  Calgary  Sun  —  an  un- 
pleasantly authentic  clone  of  its  Toronto 
parent  —  with  the  news  that  Klein's  ap- 
pearance was  a  "breakthrough,"  and 
that  the  gay  community  would  give 
Klein  "its  complete  support." 

The  Sun's  banner  headline  January 
12  read  "Klein  backs  gay  rights,"  and 
two  days  later  an  editorial  by  associate 
editor  Michael  Shapcott  entitled  "Pink 
herring"  condemned  "politicians  who 
slavishly  pander  to  minorities  who  are 
trying  to  legitimize  their  sordid  prac- 
tices." 

As  well,  Shapcott  used  his  regular 
column  January  16  to  roast  Klein  for 
"providing  encouragement  to  a  group 
of  people  that  most  of  us  find,  at  best,, 
to  be  morally  offensive." 

The  Sun  onslaught  seems  to  have 
frightened  Klein  into  backpedaling 
somewhat  —  he  was  quoted  shortly 
after  as  saying  gays  "should  neither  ask 
for,  nor  expect,  any  special  rights  or 
privileges,"  and  that  he  didn't  "con- 
done homosexual  prostitutes,  or  draw- 
ing young  people  into  homosexual  ac- 
tivities." No  one  in  the  gay  community, 
of  course,  had  suggested  anything  of  the 
sort. 

However,  Rod  Love,  Klein's  execu- 
tive assistant,  told  TBP  that  the  mayor 
had  been  misquoted  by  the  Sun  when  it 


Klein:  'Mayor  of  all  the  people '  '■  reacts  to 
attack  by  the  Calgary  Sun. 


claimed  he  said  gays  should  not  hold 
demonstrations,  or  apply  to  the  city  for 
permits  to  hold  parades.  Love  said 
Klein  was  merely  saying  gays  were 
politically  hot,  and  that  a  smarter  way 
of  reaching  their  goals  was  to  keep  a 
low  profile.  He  said  that  no  reference 
had  been  made  to  refusing  to  issue  a 
parade  permit. 

That  issue  arose  because  both  former 
mayor  Ross  Alger  and  the  city  police  re- 
fused to  issue  a  parade  permit  to  GIRC 
during  last  year's  national  gay  con- 
ference. 

Asked  if  Klein  regretted  his  ap- 
pearance at  the  ball,  Love  said  "only  in 
the  sense  of  the  reaction  from  the  Sun. 
It  took  up  a  lot  of  his  time.  And  really, 
all  he  said  at  the  dinner  was  gays  are 
part  of  society,  and  as  long  as  he's 
mayor  they  have  rights. 

"Goddamn  it,  there  are  a  lot  of  them 
in  Calgary,"  Love  added,  "and  he 
(Klein)  firmly  believes  he's  mayor  of  all 
the  people." 

Sun  associate  editor  Shapcott  told 
TBP  his  paper  had  not  endorsed  Klein 
in  last  fall's  mayoralty  race,  but  had 
given  the  nod  to  incumbent  Ross  Alger, 
sometimes  described  as  a  friend  of  the 
same  development  interests  the  Sun  is 
thought  to  endorse.  Klein  had  cam- 
paigned partly  on  promises  to  preserve 
Calgary  neighbourhoods  threatened  by 
mindless  development. 

Love  also  said  the  incident  stirred  so 
little  real  public  concern  that  the 
mayor's  office  had  not  received  one  let- 
ter either  pro  or  con. 

One  remaining  mystery  in  the  whole 
affair  is  the  identity  of  "Derek  Green," 
the  man  describing  himself  as  a  local 
gay  activist  who  tipped  off  the  Sun  to 
Klein's  presence  at  the  ball.  It  turns  out 
the  man  is  unknown  to  the  Calgary  gay 
community,  but  TBP  research  indicates 
he  is  probably  Paul  Green  from  Win- 
nipeg, a  man  Gays  For  Equality's  Chris 
Vogel  describes  as  a  "compulsive  liar 
and  publicity  hound." 

"I'm  almost  certain  it  was  he,"  Vogel 
said.  "He's  called  himself  Derek  or 
Devon  before." 

Although  the  whole  inflated  affair 
has  pretty  much  died  down,  the 
magazine  Alberta  Report  claims  Klein 
will  not  commit  himself  to  appearing  at 
any  more  gay  functions.  One  inadver- 
tant  appearance  may  well  be  in  the 
works,  however. 

Klein  is  expected  to  officiate  at 
ceremonies  declaring  Calgary's  old 
YMC  A  building  a  historical  site.  The 
director  of  the  old  Y?  Gay  activist  Bruce 
May,  the  man  who  invited  Klein  to  the 
Court  ball.  And  the  old  Y's  most  notor- 
ious tenant?  Gay  Information  and 
Resources  Calgary. 

(ierald  Hannon 


'Get  lost'  says  owner 
and  shuts  lesbian  bar 

TORONTO  —  The  Fly-By-Night 
Lounge,  the  only  lesbian  bar  in  this  city 
that  was  open  six  days  a  week,  was 
closed  down  February  9. 

When  she  tried  to  open  for  business 
that  day,  says  Fly  manager  Pat  Murphy, 
she  was  told  to  "get  lost"  by  Philip 
Stein,  the  owner  of  the  Stage  212  Hotel, 
in  which  the  women's  lounge  was  lo-ca- 
ted.  "He  has  put  us  onto  the  street," 
says  Murphy.  "He  eliminated  five  peo- 
ple's jobs  on  five  minutes'  notice." 

Stein  purchased  the  Stage  212  at  the 
end  of  December,  agreeing  to  let  the 
Fly-by-Night  continue  to  operate  out  of 
his  hotel.  But,  according  to  Murphy, 
Stein  insisted  on  interfering  with  the 
management  of  the  bar.  Relations  deter- 
iorated further  when  Murphy  learned 
the  manager  of  the  strip  discotheque  in 
the  hotel  had  told  a  waitress  at  the  Fly- 
By-Night  that  he  "would  give  her  the 
rape  she  needs." 

Murphy  doesn't  think  the  recent  bath 
raids  triggered  the  closing,  but  she  says 
it  was  "a  product  of  the  same  mental- 
ity." Just  after  the  raids,  according  to 
Murphy,  Stein  stated:  "They  were  run- 
ning bawdy  houses  and  they  got 
clipped.  Big  deal." 

TBP  attempted  to  contact  Stein  for  his 
side  of  the  story.  However,  when  he 
learned  that  he  was  talking  to  a  TBP 
reporter,  Stein  immediately  passed  the 
phone  to  an  assistant  who  told  us:  "I 
don't  care  what  you  print,  but  you'd 
better  be  careful." 

Stein,  who  is  heterosexual,  also  owns 
the  Quest,  a  gay  men's  bar  on  Yonge 
Street.  Murphy  and  other  women  in  the 
community  are  organizing  a  boycott  of 
The  Quest  which  they  hope  will  be  sup- 
ported by  gay  men  as  well  as  lesbians.  □ 

Gay  foster  parents 
a  last  resort:  CAS 

OTTAWA  —  This  city's  Children's  Aid 
Society  (CAS)  says  it  will  consider 
placing  children  with  homosexual  foster 
parents  —  but  only  as  a  last  resort. 
Preference  will  still  be  given  to  hetero- 
sexual parents. 

Anyone  can  apply  to  become  a  foster 
parent,  according  to  CAS  director  Joe 
Messner,  but  he  said  that  the  board  of 
directors  had  decided  recently  that 
preference  should  be  given  to  placing 
children  in  a  "normalized  setting,"  ie, 
with  couples  who  have  a  heterosexual 
married  lifestyle. 

The  board  decided  to  adopt  a  policy 
after  receiving  an  application  from  a 
gay  person  several  months  ago.  Messner 
refused  to  comment  on  the  outcome  of 
that  case,  saying  the  CAS  does  not 
reveal  publicly  its  decisions  on 
applicants. 

Gays  of  Ottawa  president  Roger 
Galipeau  labelled  the  policy  as  "dis- 
criminatory," and  he  called  upon  the 
CAS  to  reconsider  its  position. 

David  GarmaiseD 

OFS  votes  to  back 
campus  gay  groups 

KINGSTON  —  The  Ontario  Federation 
of  Students  (OFS)  passed  a  resolution  at 
its  January  conference  here  urging 
students'  councils  to  give  moral  and 
financial  support  to  campus  gay  groups, 
and  urging  student  leaders  to  approach 
MPPs  of  all  three  provincial  parties  to 
move  a  gay  rights  amendment  to  the 
Ontario  Human  Rights  Code.i 


14/ThE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


The  election  in  St  George  riding: 
hopping  on  the  gay  bandwagon 


With  a  glaring  disparity  beween  its 
wealthy  north  end  and  pockets  of  inner- 
city  poverty,  St  George  riding,  NDPers 
like  to  think,  is  a  microcosm  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Ontario.  That  should  mean  it 
has  been  a  Tory  seat  continually  since 
1944.  In  fact,  for  the  rast  eight  years,  it 
has  been  held  by  a  former  Tory.  Mar- 
garet Campbell,  the  MLA  for  St  George 
at  dissolution,  was  the  sole  remaining 
Liberal  representing  a  Metro  Toronto 
riding  after  the  last  election  in  1975.  St 
George  includes  a  larger  portion  of 
Toronto's  gay  ghetto  than  any  other 
provincial  constituency.  With  her  deci- 
sion not  to  seek  re-election,  revealed 
February  5,  it  promises  to  be  a  hotly 
contested  riding.  And  gay  politicians 
have  been  clamouring  to  get  in  on  the 
race.  Both  the  Liberals  and  the  NDP  in 
St  George  were  confronted  by  openly 
gay  prospective  candidates  at  their 
nomination  meetings. 

The  Tories  have  a  head  start,  having 
chosen  their  candidate  last  fall.  Susan 
Fish,  a  former  city  alderman,  was  once 
assistant  to  Toronto's  "red  Tory" 
mayor,  David  Crombie.  lo  1974,  Toron- 
to adopted  a  gay  rights  protection  pro- 
vision for  municipal  employees;  that 
was  Fish's  first  contact  with  the  issue. 

The  albatross  that  she  must  drag 
around  with  her  on  her  quest  for  the  gay 
vote  is  PC  party  leader  Bill  Davis, 
whose  record  on  gay  rights  should  be 
enough  to  dissuade  her  from  even  try- 
ing. Fish  insists  she  supports  the  inclu- 
sion of  "sexual  orientation"  in  the 
Human  Rights  Code,  but  admits  that 
means  nothing  in  view  of  the  little  in- 
fluence she  will  have  on  the  Conser- 
vative Party  or  a  Conservative  govern- 
ment. I  asked  her  if  she  would  consider 
submitting  a  private  member's  bill  for 
gay  rights,  as  Margaret  Campbell  had. 
"That'.s  a  very  real  option,"  she  said, 
"but  I  want  to  understand  the  full  im- 
plications of  it  before  I  commit  myself 
to  it." 

The  NDP  nomination  meeting  Feb- 
ruary 9  was  the  only  real  contest  in  the 
candidate  selection  process.  It  pitted 
John  Argue,  who  is  a  member  of  the  St 
George  NDP  executive,  NDP  Metro 
Chairman  and  a  gay  activist,  against 
Dan  Leckie,  former  Toronto  School 
Board  Chairman  and  one-time  assistant 
to  former  mayor  John  Sewell.  Leckie 
delivered  a  fiery  speech  condemning  the 
recent  raid  on  the  baths  and  criticizing 
his  own  party  and  its  leader  for  flip- 
flopping  on  their  commitment  to  gay 
rights.  Argue,  the  picture  of  reason, 
delivered  a  moderate-sounding  presen- 
tation that  integrated  gay  concerns  with 
the  rest  of  the  party  platform.  A  model 
of  the  NDPer  who  happens  to  be  gay, 
he  refrained  from  direct  criticism  of  the 
party  brass  who  were  supporting  his 
opponent. 

The  surprise  of  the  evening  was  pro- 
duced by  MCC  pastor  Brent  Hawkes 
who,  saying  that  sexual  orientation  was 
no  more  a  reason  to  vote  for  someone 
than  against  him,  seconded  I  cckie's 
nomination.  "I  ihink  Dan's  chances  to 
win  the  riding  arc  much  better  than 
John's,"  Hawkes  explained.  I  eckie 
won  130  to  106. 

The  next  night,  February  10,  St 
( ieOTge  Liberals  had  to  choose  between 
Rev  Bruce  McLcod,  former  moderator 
of  th«-United  Church,  and  Ontario 
Human  Rights  Commissioner,  and 
Petei  Maloney,  vice-president  ol  the 

►ntO  and  District  I  ib«ral  Assoi 

tion  and  Co-ordinator  of  the  ( Coalition 
foi  ( la)  Rights  in  Ontario. 


McLeod's  speech  contained  a  major 
blunder  in  reference  to  gay  rights:  the 
claim  that  the  Liberals  were  the  only 
party  on  record  in  support  of  a  gay- 
rights  amendment  to  human  rights 
legislation  (the  NDP  is  on  record,  for 
what  that's  worth;  the  Liberals  are  not). 
McLeod  condemned  the  Conservatives 
for  "dragging  their  feet  by  not  in- 
cluding sexual  orientation"  in  the 
Human  Rights  Code  and  called  for  an 
investigation  into  the  raids. 

"Last  Thursday's  raids  radicalized 
me,"  Maloney  announced  in  his  speech. 
"It  was  the  absolutely  deafening  silence 
of  Stuart  Smith  and  most  of  his  caucus 
members  that  has  me  here  tonight."  He 
said  his  party's  record  on  gay  rights 
"makes  me  ashamed  to  be  a  Liberal." 
His  eloquent  plea  to  help  rectify  that  by 
making  him  their  candidate  fell  on  deaf 
ears.  After  the  votes  were  in,  Maloney 
resigned,  saying  the  Liberals  made  him 
choose  between  his  loyalty  to  them  and 
his  homosexuality,  and  that  he  was  left 
with  no  choice  but  to  support  an  in- 
dependent gay  candidate  in  the  person 
of  George  Hislop. 

Maloney's  entry  into  the  nomination 
fray  was  not  met  with  universal  ap- 
proval. Jim  Monk,  Chairperson  of  the 
Coalition  for  Gay  Rights  in  Ontario, 
had  this  to  say:  "Peter's  seeking  the 
Liberal  nomination  and  urging  George 
to  run  conflict  with  the  spirit  of 
CGRO's  election  strategy.  He  never 
discussed  his  intentions  with  the  Coali- 
tion's executive.  Whatever  his  motives, 
and  regardless  of  the  wisdom  of  this 
election  intervention,  I  don't  think  he 
can  remain  CGRO's  co-ordinator  given 
the  contempt  he's  shown  for  the  con- 
sensus on  which  we  operate." 

Hislop's  announcement  of  his  candi- 
dacy the  next  day  took  off  with  rage 
over  the  recent  raids.  Saying  that 
Attorney  General  Roy  McMurtry  had 
"unleashed  the  dogs  of  war"  against 
Metro's  gay  community,  Hislop  said, 
"We've  seen  what  scruffy,  mangy, 
rabid  curs  some  members  of  the  Metro- 
politan Toronto  Police  are.  And  we're 
going  to  fight  back."  He  said  he  deci- 
ded to  run  because  the  NDP  and 


St  George  Candidates:  (Clockwise)  NDP's 
Dan  Leckie,  Conservative  Susan  Fish,  and 
Liberal  Bruce  McLeod. 

Liberals  had  both  failed  to  field  gay 
candidates. 

But  he  too  ran  into  criticism  from  gay 
activists.  Tom  Warner,  a  co- 
Chairperson  of  Hislop's  campaign  com- 
mittee for  last  November's  Toronto 
civic  election,  told  me:  "We  worked 
hard  to  make  clear  that  George  was  not 
just  a  single-issue  candidate  —  now  he's 
throwing  all  that  away  —  and  with  it  the 
chance  to  be  taken  seriously  as  a  can- 
didate ever  again.  Besides,  election  cam- 
paigns are  draining.  In  times  like  these, 
we  need  all  the  financial  and  human 
resources  we  can  muster  just  to  defend 
the  community." 

Hislop  says  he's  been  seen  as  a  single- 
issue  candidate  anyway,  and  that  "if 
human  rights  are  the  issue,  that's  not  a 
bad  thing  to  be  known  to  stand  for.  A 
lot  can  change  in  two  years  (before 
there'll  be  another  municipal  election) 
in  the  political  chemistry  of  this  city." 
And  right  now,  with  the  anger  in  the 
community,  "we've  got  enough  energy 


to  make  Niagara  Falls  run  backwards." 
Peter  Maloney  pointed  out  that  contri- 
butions to  the  campaign  would  be 
deductible  against  Ontario  taxes,  and 
that,  "if  we  can  pull  out  15  per  cent  of 
the  vote,  the  government  will  have  to 
contribute  between  six  and  eight  thou- 
sand dollars  toward  our  expenses.  It's 
about  time  gay  people  got  back  some  of 
our  own."  The  Hislop  campaign  will  be 
operating  out  of  the  second  floor  of  9  St 
Joseph  Street  (telephone:  968-6553). 
Chris  Bearchell 


The  issue  that  won't  go  away 

Much  as  the  Party  Leaders  would  like  it  to. 


Despite  repeated  denials  by  the  leaders 
of  Ontario's  three  parliamentary  par- 
ties, there  is  little  doubt  that  gay  rights 
will  be  an  issue  in  the  election  campaign 
now  underway.  Just  four  months  ago, 
the  Toronto  Star  published  a  list  of  12 
issues  expected  to  figure  in  the  coming 
election  and  the  stands  of  the  parties  on 
each  one.  Gay  rights  was  fourth  on  the 
list. 

Political  commentators  have  been 
quick  to  point  out  the  strange  coinci- 
dence that  a  massive  raid  on  four 
Toronto  steambaths  occurred  in  the 
same  week  that  Premier  William  I )a\  is 
announced  an  election  for  March  19. 

In  a  column  published  in  the  Ottawa 
Citizen  Februarj  10,  Allen  Fother- 
ingham  wrote:  "I  he  police  say  the  raids 
came  after  six  months  ol  'investigation.' 
Alter  six  months  of  planning,  it  was  a 
mere  coincidence  that  the  military-like 
Operation  involving  I  Ml  police  came  at 
the  start  ol  an  election  campaign?" 

\n  editorial  in  the  Citizen  was  even 
more  direct   "Sudden  police  action 
■ !  n si  homosexuals  could  galvaniie 


support  for  the  incumbent  Conserva- 
tives who  are  trying  to  wrest  Toronto 
ridings  away  from  New  Democrats.  Was 
this  the  purpose  behind  the  police 
action?  This  may  sound  like  pure 
hypothesis.  If  the  police  have  a  more 
legitimate  reason,  they  should  spell  it 
out." 

In  December,  just  before  dissolution 
of  the  legislature,  the  greatest  debate 
was  over  the  long-awaited  amendment 
of  the  Ontario  Human  Rights  Code.  Bill 
209  included  all  but  one  of  a  review 
committee's  97  recommendations  for 
change:  the  one  missing  was  the  sugges- 
tion to  add  "sexual  orientation"  to  the 

Code. 

Premier  Davis  made  it  cleat  a  yeai 
ago  thai  the  ruling  minority  government 
of  Progressive  (  onsei vatives  would  not 

act  on  that  recommendation.  But  what 

really  shocked  supporters  of  ga)  nehis 
was  the  recent  abandonment  of  then 

commitment  in  this  direction  In  the 

whole  legislative  caucus  ol  the  NDP  and 

hv  the  mdiv  idual  sitting  members  of  the 
I  iberal  Party  who  had  been  supportive 


At  a  human  rights  seminar  sponsored 
by  the  Metro  Toronto  Labour  Council 
in  January,  a  disapproving  audience 
heard  NDP  leader  Michael  Cassidy  con- 
firm earlier  reports  that  gay  rights  were 
"not  a  priority  at  this  time." 

On  January  25,  the  Coalition  for  Gay 
Rights  in  Ontario  adopted  its  policy  for 
the  anticipated  election  campaign.  The 
Coalition 

•  condemns  all  three  parties; 

•  urges  gay  members  of  those  parties 
not  to  work  for  party  candidates;  and 

•  asks  those  members  to  redirect 
financial  contributions  which  would 
have  gone  to  party  candidates  to  the 
Coalition. 

A  four-page  tabloid  for  mass  circula- 
tion is  being  prepared  and  a  rally  is 
planned  for  Friday,  March  (->.  at  the  St 
I  awrence  Market  North  in  fbront 
Ontario  leaders  who  want  more  infoi 
mation  or  who  want  to  help  should  call 

CGRO  staffei  Christine  Donald  at 
(416  :4. 

Ridings  to  watch  m  this  election  will 
be  St  George  in  Toronto  (sec  main 

story )  and  Ottawa  Centre,  where  NDP 

leader  Michael  (assidv  is  seeking  reelec- 
tion   I  he  riding  is  the  geographical 
focus  ol  the  capital's  ga)  community, 

and  (  assidv  won  the  seat  bv  a  thin 
m  in  the  last  election 


MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC  15 


ROBERT  W.  CRICHTON 
INSURANCE  AGENCY 
LTD. 


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(416)597-1080 


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Womynly  Ways 

Productions 

presents 

HOLLY 
NEAR 

with 
Adrienne  Torf 


March  20,  1981,  8  PM  sharp 

Convocation  Hall,  Univ.  of  Toronto 

Tickets:  $6  advance,  $7  at  the  door 

Available  at  Toronto  Women's 

Bookstore,  85  Harbord  St,  and  at 

Glad  Day  Books,  648A  Yonge  St 

Childcare  will  be  provided. 

The  event  will  be  interpreted 

for  the  hearing-impaired. 


Black  and  White 
Men  Together 


Write 


BWMT-ZF 
279    Collingwood 
San   Francisco     CA     94114 


FOR  FULL  BODY 


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Continued  from  page  12 

neither  badges  nor  flash  numbers, 
Deputy  Chief  Jack  Marks  says  his  in- 
vestigations have  satisfied  him  that  all 
officers  were  wearing  either  one  or  the 
other.  The  investigation  seems  to  have 
taken  less  than  a  day. 

As  TBP  goes  to  press  February  12, 
the  community  is  still  Crackling  with  the 
sense  of  outrage  the  raids  provoked, 
and  the  exhilaration  of  the  Friday  night 
protest.  What  most  people  are  detecting 
is  a  pervasive  and  deepening  sense  of  de- 
fiance and  pride  —  and  the  evidence 
keeps  coming  in  through  small,  human 
anecdotes. 

An  older  friend  of  mine  told  me 
about  an  older  friend  of  his  who  was 
out  on  the  streets  for  his  first  demon- 
stration, who  half  startled  himself  by 
saying  that  if  anyone  had  pitched  a 
Molotov  cocktail  into  the  legislature 
Friday  night  he  would  have  cheered  him 
on. 

Chris  Bearchell  talks  about  taking  a 
cab  home  with  some  of  the  women  in 
the  demonstration,  and  fielding  ques- 
tions from  an  older  Chinese  cabdriver 
who  at  first  seemed  hostile  to  the  idea  of 
the  demo  and  a  cabfull  of  dykes.  They 
were  misreading  him  though  —  when 
they  got  home,  he  told  them  shyly  that 
the  ride  was  on  him. 

My  favourite,  though,  comes  from 
one  of  our  own  photographers  who 
wasn't  even  in  town  Friday  night.  He 
works  as  a  waiter  for  Via  Rail,  and  was 
somewhere  between  Windsor  and 
Toronto  on  Saturday  when  somebody 
pushed  a  Toronto  Star  at  him.  The 
headline  read  "Rally  erupts  as  3,000  go 
on  rampage." 

Peter  went  to  the  stock  cupboard, 
found  a  towel  with  a  pink  stripe  down 
the  middle,  tore  that  centre  strip  out  of 
it  and  made  it  into  an  arm  band. 

"My  supervisor  asked  me  about  it  so 
I  told  him  what  it  meant  to  me,  and  that 
I  was  going  to  wear  it  for  the  rest  of  the 
day.  And  1  did. "D 


Late-breaking 


•Those  wishing  to  give  money  to  the 
Right  to  Privacy  Committee  to  help  in 
the  legal  defence  of  those  charged  in  the 
raids  should  make  cheques  payable  to 
Harriet  Sachs  in  trust  for  RTPC  and 
send  to:  Cornish,  King  and  Sachs,  Bar- 
risters and  Solicitors,  111  Richmond  St 
W,  Suite  320,  Toronto,  ON  M5H  3N6. 
A  ny  donations  already  made  to  Hall- 
man  and  Higgins  will  be  forwarded  to 
the  new  trustee. 

•All  three  Toronto  dailies  have 
promised  not  to  publish  the  names  of 
found-ins.  An  earlier  Sun  editorial  had 
threatened  to  do  so,  but  publisher 
Douglas  Creighton  issued  a  statement 
through  the  police  on  February  13  giv- 
ing an  assurance  that  names  would  not 
appear  in  print. 

•Right-wing  trustees  on  the  Toronto 
Board  of  Education  failed  to  censure 
the  board's  race  relations  advisor  on 
February  12.  Trustees  tried  to  call  Tony 
Souza  on  the  carpet  because  he  spoke 
out  at  a  city  hall  press  conference  of 
prominent  citizens  concerned  about  the 
police  raids.  He  said  that,  unless  police 
harassment  of  minorities  stopped, 
people  would  "burn" and  "do 
damage. ' '  A  secret  board  meeting  to 
discuss  the  issue  is  reported  to  have 
lasted  into  the  early  hours  of  the  morn- 
ing. 

•An  accused  found- in  called  TBP 
February  11  to  say  he'd  fust  been  busted 
at  his  home  on  a  drug  charge.  He  said 
the  police  told  him,  "These  demonstra- 
tions just  antagonize  us.  If  you  people 


keep  it  up,  we  'II  make  it  tougn  for 
you. "' 

•  Victims  of  police  brutality  and 
witnesses  to  incidents  with  police  either 
during  the  raids  or  the  following  night's 
demonstration  are  urgently  requested  to 
contact  the  Right  to  Privacy  Commit- 
tee. Call  TBP  at  977-6320  and  we  will 
pass  on  the  information. 

•Any  of  the  accused  found-ins  who 
have  lost  fobs  or  otherwise  suffered  as  a 
result  of  the  raid  should  contact  TBP 
and  RTPC.  Documentation  of  the 
aftermath  of  the  police  action  is 
especially  important. 

•Not  all  accused  found-ins  have  con- 
tacted the  Right  to  Privacy  Committee. 
It  is  urgent  that  you  do  so.  Call  either 
TBP  at  977-6320,  or  John  Burt  of  the 
RTPC  Documentation  Committee  at 
368-7347. 

•Anyone  contacting  either  TBP  or 
the  Right  to  Privacy  Committee  on  any 
of  the  above  matters  can  be  assured  that 
all  information  given  will  be  held  in  the 
strictest  confidence.  □ 


EEM 


BC  teachers  fight  bias 

VANCOUVER  —  The  British  Colum- 
bia Teachers'  Federation  has  resolved 
"to  strive  to  eliminate  from  the  school 
system  discrimination  on  the  basis  of 
sexual  orientation." 

Ken  Acheson,  spokesperson  for  the 
BCTF,  told  TBP  that  the  resolution  was 
passed  "with  almost  no  comment  what- 
ever." He  pointed  out  that  it  would 
apply  not  only  to  job  security  but  also 
to  curriculum.  "The  Federation  has  a 
policy  of  eliminating  discrimination  of 
all  kinds  from  the  province's  elementary 
and  secondary  schools,"  Acheson 
emphasized. 

Gay  Awareness  Week 

TORONTO  —  Several  University  of 
Toronto  gay  groups  are  organizing  Gay 
Awareness  Week  for  February  23-28  in 
an  attempt  to  educate  people  to  the 
reality  of  gay  life  on  campus. 

After  some  controversy,  a  student 
council  committee  awarded  the  project 
$150  towards  costs,  $125  less  than  had 
been  asked  for. 


What  about  the  cunt  lappers? 

OTTAWA  —  Don  Cherry,  retiring 
president  of  the  Central  Canada  Exhibi- 
tion Association,  referred  to  gay  people 
as  "dicky  lickers"  during  a  public 
meeting  of  the  association's  board  of 
directors. 

The  term  came  up  when  he  was  dis- 
cussing his  unsuccessful  attempt  to 
bring  Anita  Bryant  to  Ottawa  in  1979. 
Cherry  said  it  would  have  been  especial- 
ly appropriate  then  because  "that  was 
the  year  the  dicky  lickers  were  having 
their  convention,"  a  reference  to  the 
gay  conference  held  that  year  in 
Ottawa. 

The  association's  new  president  told 
the  press  that  Cherry  was  "quite  wrong 
in  his  remarks." 

Fire  closes  baths 

OTTAWA  —  A  fire  in  the  building 
housing  the  Club  Ottawa  has  temporar- 
ily closed  this  city's  only  gay  steam 
bath.  The  flames,  which  broke  out  in 
the  early  morning  hours  of  January 
23rd,  did  not  reach  the  baths  directly, 
but  it  suffered  extensive  water  and 
smoke  damage.  Management  says  it 
should  re-open  soon. 

Compiled  by  Arn  GabelD 


16/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


BetweenTheLines 


byKenPopert 


Anger  comes  out 


"I  don't  know  what  got  into  me.  I 
wanted  to  burn  the  legislature  down." 

In  what  was  perhaps  a  reflective 
mood,  the  owner  of  a  small  gay  business 
stood  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Wellesley  and  Yonge,  on  precisely  the 
spot  from  which,  two  hours  earlier,  the 
gay  people  of  Toronto  had  willy-nilly 
entered  into  a  historic  and  blessed 
departure  from  common  sense. 

Something  had  gotten  into  him. 
Something  got  into  a  hell  of  a  lot  of  us 
that  Friday  night. 

Something  got  into  the  people  who 
gathered  on  that  corner  to  protest  the 
arrest  of  almost  300  gay  men  in  a 
Gestapo-like  raid  on  four  bathhouses 
the  night  before,  something  that  made 
them  spill  illegally,  but  unhesitatingly, 
into  the  traffic  at  three  minutes  past 
midnight. 

Something  got  into  the  straights  and 
the  lesbian-feminists  and  the  disco 
dykes  who  joined  with  gay  men  to  shut 


off  Toronto's  main  arterial  roadway, 
screaming  "Stop  the  cops!"  and  "No 
more  shit!" 

Something  got  into  those  gay  people 
when,  confounding  the  plans  of  the  or- 
ganizers and,  maybe,  the  expectations 
of  the  cops,  they  suddenly  began  to 
move  south  on  Yonge,  towards  the 
hated  52  Division  of  the  Metropolitan 
police,  choking  the  street  sidewalk-to- 
sidewalk  as  their  ranks  swelled,  freezing 
the  cars  where  they  stood  and  forcing 
police  to  rush  on  ahead,  turning  back 
oncoming  traffic  as  they  went. 

Something  got  into  the  gay  men  who, 
lacking  the  tools  of  destruction,  used 
their  hands  and  feet  to  break  the  win- 
dows of  police  cruisers  and  dent  the 
sides  of  paddy  wagons  hastily  moved  in- 
to the  intersection  of  Yonge  and  Dundas 
by  the  cops,  perhaps  in  a  failing  attempt 
to  turn  back  the  marchers  by  a  display 
of  the  symbols  of  authority. 

Something  got  into  the  faggots  who 
seized  cops  from  behind  as  they 
attempted  to  make  arrests,  setting  free 
their  prisoners. 

Something  got  into  the  bar-goers 
who,  as  the  demonstration  turned  vnosi 
along  Dundas  towards  52  Division, 
Opened  their  pants  and  pissed  on  an 
empty  cop  car  and,  spotting  a  uni- 
formed cop  in  an  unmarked  car,  sur- 
rounded and  rocked  it  so  violently  that 
he  threw  down  his  pen  and  his  notebook 
and  clung  to  (he  dashboard  in  fear. 

Something  got  into  the  3,000  who 
crossed  University  Avenue  to  52  Dm 
sion,  now  defended  by  a  single  line  of 


cops  standing  shoulder  to  shoulder,  the 
three  thousand  who  screamed  into  a  line 
of  very  frightened  faces,  shouting  not 
"Resign,  resign!"  as  reported  by  the 
dainty  dailies,  but  rather  "Sieg  heil!" 
and  "Fuck  you,  Fifty-two!  Fuck  you, 
Fifty-two!" 

Something  got  into  those  people  as 
they  pushed  up  University  Avenue, 
rushed  past  the  statue  of  Sir  John  A 
Macdonald,  past  the  foot  of  the  steps  of 
the  legislature  and  up  to  the  doors 
where  a  very  thin  line  of  very  scared 
cops  was  allowed  to  hold. 

I  know  that  something  got  into 
people,  because  it  got  into  me.  I've  been 
in  plenty  of  gay  demonstrations  in  this 
city.  I  don't  much  like  chanting, 
because  I  find  it  hard  to  muster  the  loss 
of  self-consciousness  required.  And  I 
often  feel  uninvolved,  untouched  by  the 
issues,  even  though  I  know  they're  im- 
portant. On  occasion,  when  demonstra- 
tions fail,  they  can  be  depressing.  But  I 
go  as  a  matter  of  duty. 

But  Friday  night  was  different.  I 
screamed  and  chanted  until  my  throat 
was  raw.  I  wanted  to  destroy,  to  injure, 
perhaps  to  kill. 

What  got  into  me  last  Friday  night 
was  my  own  anger,  anger  which  I've 
become  accustomed  to  thrusting  away 
from  myself  because  it's  too  big  to  deal 
with,  too  frightening  to  acknowledge. 

What  got  into  me  was  my  own  anger 
over,  just  for  starters,  the  raids  on  the 
baths,  the  arrest  of  my  lover  and  some 
of  my  friends,  the  sadism  in  search  of 
helpless  victims  which  seems  to  be 
characteristic  of  cops. 

And  what  got  into  me  last  Friday 
night  goes  further  back  than  all  this. 

What  got  into  me  was  my  own  anger 
over  living  in  a  society  which  finds  my 
existence  inconvenient. 

What  got  into  me  was  my  own  anger 
over  harassment  on  streets  that  are 
never  safe  for  me. 

What  got  into  me  was  my  own  anger 
over  the  unrelenting  stream  of  taunts 
and  insults  from  the  media,  coolly  cal- 
culated to  undermine  my  self-respect 
with  every  passing  day. 

What  got  into  me  was  my  own  anger 
over  the  right-wing  and  outright  fascist 
propaganda  against  gay  people  being 
circulated  in  this  city. 

What  got  into  me  was  my  own  anger 
over  mainstream  political  parties  which 
have  betrayed  their  commitment  to 
human  rights  because  the  likes  of  the 
Ku  Klux  Klan  have  looked  at  them 
askance. 

What  got  into  me  was  my  own  anger 
over  city  aldermen  for  whom  I  cam- 
paigned not  three  months  ago  and  who 
are  now  silent  while  gay  people  are 
robbed  of  what  little  freedom  and  safely 
we  have. 

Friday  night  was  a  warning.  I  finally 
got  angry.  And  I'm  still  angry  now. 
Anger  is  what  got  into  me  and  into  a  lot 
of  other  people  that  Friday  night,  an 
anger  which  stands  lor  hate  returned 
full-measure. 

As  long  as  society  continues  to 
demand  us  as  its  victims  and  its  human 
Sacrifices,  that  anger  is  going  to  be 
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MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/17 


NewsAnalysis 


The  International  Lesbian  Infor- 
mation Secretariat  (ILIS)  met  in 
A  msterdam  from  December  2  7 
to  31,  1980.  Christine  Donald, 
who  works  for  the  Coalition  for 
Gay  Rights  in  Ontario,  tells  all. 
I  arrived  in  Amsterdam  with  a  mixture 
of  trepidation  and  anticipation.  Much 
as  I  was  looking  forward  to  the  confer- 
ence, I  had  an  impression  of  Amster- 
dam as  a  man's  city  —  all  those  ads  in 
Gay  News  for  Naughty  Weekends.  At 
the  airport  many  men  looked  as  if  they 
might  be  on  Man-Around-type  holidays 
and  at  least  two  of  them,  who  spoke  to 
us,  were  just  that.  On  our  first  evening 
we  ventured  out  for  a  breather  and 
strolled  ignorantly  straight  into  the  red 
light  district  and  then  onto  main  streets 
where  there  were  enough  gangs  of 
staring,  tough-looking  youths  for  me  to 
want  to  head  directly  back  to  the  Youth 
Hostel. 

Youth  Hostel?  Yes  indeed.  The 
women  of  the  ILIS,  the  lesbian  part  of 
the  International  Gay  Association,  had 
booked  the  entire  hostel  for  the  five 
days  of  the  conference.  It  was  a  great 
pleasure  not  to  have  to  find  one's  way 
through  a  strange  city  to  look  for  the 
person  one's  been  billeted  on,  arrange 
for  the  key  under  the  milk  bottle,  etc. 
The  hostel  was  warm,  the  beds  comfort- 
able and  the  view  from  the  window  was 
of  cobbled  streets  and  a  canal  with  real 
Dutch  ducks  on  it.  There  were  hot 
showers,  to  which  some  strode  lithe  and 
gloriously  naked  and  others  shuffled 
covertly  in  voluminous  nightgowns  (no 
prizes  for  guessing  which  group  I  fall 
in).  The  food  was  amiably  but  unobtru- 
sively provided  by  a  group  of  gay  men 
for  vegetarians  and  carnivores  alike  — 
more  of  us  wanted  to  be  vegetarians 
than  had  said  in  advance,  which  led  to 
us  all  being  asked  to  eat  meat  if  we 
could  bring  ourselves  to  do  so.  There 
was  also  a  child-care  centre  run  by  the 
men;  in  fact  there  was  only  one  baby, 
who  put  in  benevolent  appearances  now 
and  then. 

Women  started  to  trickle  in  on  the 
first  evening,  more  or  less  tired  depend- 
ing on  whether  they  had  used  money  or 
ingenuity  for  the  journey.  Some  went  to 
the  first  workshop /social  event,  which 
was  called  "Mime:  getting  to  know  each 
other  without  words."  Those  of  us 
frightened  silly  by  the  mere  idea  went  to 
bed  early  with  a  Good  Book  (as  we 
guiltily  admitted  later)  or  floated 
around  trying  to  get  our  bearings,  via 
the  "soupmeal"  and  the  cost-price  bar, 
to  the  welcome  bed. 

At  the  plenary  next  morning,  we 
geared  ourselves  for  action  and  found 
that  we  were  more  than  70  women  from 
16  or  so  different  countries  —  not  as 
straightforward  a  statement  as  it  looks. 
For  instance,  the  woman  from  Sweden 
was  in  fact  a  black  American  (from 
Alabama,  via  the  US  military);  the 
woman  from  California  hailed  original- 
ly from  South  Africa  via  Paris  and 
Rome;  the  woman  coming  from  Edin- 
burgh really  came  from  Massachusetts 
and  the  Canadian  delegate  (me)  was  a 
downright  fraud  (but  we  English,  of 
course,  feel  we  can  encompass  the 
Canadian  experience  with  no  problem, 


Christine  Donald  reports  on  the  international  lesbian  conference 

Friendly  ferocity  in  Amsterdam 


so  there's  a  piece  of  luck). 

We  sorted  out  our  interpreters  —  not 
a  language  spoken  but  there  were  trans- 
lators available  —  a  redoubtable  band 
of  women  who  battled  valiantly  and 
long  and  only  occasionally  ended  up  in 
the  wrong  language.  The  official 
language  of  the  conference  was  English 

—  native  English  speakers  tried  to 
assuage  our  guilt  by  taking  the 
workshop  minutes,  trying  or  discarding 
our  school  French  (whichever  seemed 
the  less  insulting)  and  denying  our  am- 
bitions to  reclaim  the  Empire  —  or,  if 
provoked,  asserting  them.  I  was  jolted 
from  my  smugness  as  a  German  speaker 
by  the  non-arrival  of  the  German 
delegates. 

The  organizers  had  prepared  a  hard 
schedule  of  nine  workshops  a  day  (run- 
ning three  at  a  time)  and  into  these  we 
diligently  plunged.  The  emphasis  was  on 
information  sharing  about  the  legal  situ- 
ation in  each  country  (most  rated  B  + 

—  could  do  better  with  effort),  the  ways 
the  rest  of  our  society  was  coping  with 
us  and  how  we  were  getting  on  our- 
selves. It  soon  became  clear  that  in 
every  country  there  is  some  social  prob- 
lem attached  to  being  known  to  be  a  les- 
bian. This  varies  from  sniffiness  in  Den- 
mark at  the  sight  of  women  holding 
hands  to  the  Italian  man  who  was  let  off 
after  shooting  a  lesbian  in  self-defence. 
(Self-defence?  What  was  she  doing? 
Well,  she  was  being  a  lesbian  and  there- 
fore a  threat  to  men  and  so  he  had  to 
defend  himself,  OK?  Well,  it  was  clear 
enough  to  the  judge.)  Nowhere  is  there 

a  paradise  for  lesbians  —  in  Spain  the 
age  of  consent  is  23  and  lesbians  have  a 
tough  time;  in  Denmark,  where  the  age 
of  consent  is  15,  you  still  have  to  be 
"careful."  In  New  Zealand  consenting 
adult  males  can  be  jailed  for  seven  years 
if  caught  in  the  act,  and  lesbians  are 
deemed  not  to  exist.  From  this  varying 
information,  we  tried  to  decide  how  we 
can  organize  to  be  helpful  to  each  other. 
Central  to  the  conference,  therefore, 


were  the  workshops  on  the  structure  of 
the  International  Lesbian  Information 
Secretariat  and  its  relationship  to  the 
IGA.  Because  of  the  strong  feminist  bias 
at  the  conference,  we  much  favoured  a 
non-hierarchical  structure  —  we  would 
much  rather  see  a  federation  of  strong 
member  groups  than  a  situation  where 
someone  at  the  top  instructs  us  what  to 
do.  This  would  mean  an  emphasis  on 
exchanging  information  and  then  co- 
ordinating action  decided  upon  by  the 
groups. 

We  still  felt  that  it  is  essential  for 
women  to  have  their  own  space,  and  so 
were  opposed  to  ILIS  becoming  com- 
pletely assimilated  into  the  IGA.  A 
structure  for  conferences  was  suggested 
whereby  women  could  have  time  to  dis- 
cuss on  their  own  those  matters  which 
relate  specifically  to  women,  and  then 
join  the  men  to  work  together  where  ap- 
propriate. This  way,  both  separatists 
and  lesbians  who  choose  to  work  in 
mixed  groups  will  be  able  to  participate 
and  ILIS  would  remain  a  part  of  the 
IGA. 

More  controversy  arose  over  names. 
Some  women  felt  that  the  word  lesbian 
should  be  included  in  the  overall  name 
of  the  association,  but  "gay"  and  "les- 
bian" have  different  meanings  and 
associations  in  different  countries. 
Eventually  we  decided  that  the  name  of 
the  International  Gay  Association 
should  be  retained.  We  shouldn't  en- 
courage people  to  believe  that  "gay" 
means  only  gay  men. 

This  mood  of  accomodation  was 
common  to  almost  all  the  conference 
events.  In  discussions  between  women 
of  entirely  opposed  views,  each  made 
great  efforts  to  see  that  others  not  be  ex- 
cluded. Similarly,  we  were  offered  a 
suggested  structure  for  the  workshops, 
but  could  choose  to  take  it  or  not.  And 
for  every  two  scheduled  workshops 
there  was  a  scheduled  "alternative 
workshop"  for  anyone  who  wanted  to 
bring  up  another  topic  for  discussion. 


Consensus  was  usually  reached  amic- 
ably with  even  the  smokers  not  being 
huffy. 

This  made  it  the  more  curious  that 
the  workshop  on  lesbianism  and  femin- 
ism became  so  heated.  Perhaps  it  was  a 
mistake  even  to  try  defining  "lesbian" 
in  an  English  whose  import  varied  with 
the  language  it  was  a  translation  from 
or  to.  We  talked  about  whether  it  is 
really  possible  to  "become  a  lesbian 
through  feminist  logic";  whether  it  is 
fair  for  women  who  are  actively  bisex- 
ual to  call  themselves  lesbians  out  of 
political  solidarity  when  they  are  still 
visibly  giving  so  much  of  their  energy  to 
men;  whether  the  separatists  are  not  lay- 
ing down  the  law  to  other  women  and 
saying  "you  may  not  sleep  with  men  if 
you  call  yourself  a  lesbian";  about  what 
us  poor  old  dykes  are  to  call  ourselves  if 
the  word  "lesbian"  is  to  mean  "some- 
one who  sleeps  with  both  sexes  but 
whose  greater  (political)  allegiance  is  to 
her  own  sex."  And  much  more. 

This  is,  perhaps,  the  other  side  of  the 
coin.  We  need  to  fight  together  for 
broader  issues,  things  like  "equality" 
and  so  on,  while  still  trying  to  discuss 
what  we  want,  who  we  are.  The  more 
freedom  we  have  to  meet  and  discuss,  to 
live  our  lives  a  little  more  as  we  would 
like,  the  harder  it  seems  to  be  to  find 
that  out.  The  more  freedom  we  have  to 
look,  the  more  we  see.  So  even  as  our 
differences  are  revealed,  we  need  to 
work  together  more  and  more. 

I  haven't  ever  been  to  such  a  friendly 
conference,  or  one  where  people  from 
such  varying  backgrounds  were  so  pre- 
pared to  listen  to  each  other's  experi- 
ence. The  ferocious  expressions  of  the 
women  in  the  plenary  as  they  tried  to 
come  to  grips  with  language  and  experi- 
ences that  were  not  their  own  were  in 
fact  as  positive  a  sign  as  their  happier 
faces  when  they  were  simply  relaxing  in 
the  presence  of  so  many  lesbians  — 
however  defined  —  from  so  many 
places.  D 


Danish,  Italian,  Swedish  —  '  'not  a  language  spoken  but  there  were  translators  —  who  only  occasionally  ended  up  in  the  wrong  language. 


18/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


TheWorld 


Hung  jury  forces  retrial  in  PIE  case 


LONDON  —  After  a  week-long 
trial  beginning  January  19,  one  of 
the  four  defendants  in  the  Pedo 
phile  Information  Exchange  (PIE) 
trial  has  been  found  not  guilty  on 
two  counts  of  conspiracy  to  corrupt 
public  morals.  The  charges  were  laid 
because  the  organization  published  a 
magazine,  Magpie,  which  ran  a  contact 
page  for  pedophiles  from  1976  to  1978. 

Halfway  through  the  trial,  the 
original  conspiracy  count  was  split  into 
two  charges,  one  of  "incitement  to  have 
sex  with  children,"  and  another  less 
serious  charge  of  "encouraging  the  ex- 
change of  obscene  material  through  the 
post." 

Although  two  other  defendants  were 
acquitted  of  the  incitement  charge,  the 
jury  failed  to  reach  a  verdict  on  encour- 
aging the  exchange  of  obscene  material. 
The  jury  also  failed  to  reach  agreement 
on  either  charge  in  the  case  of  PIE 
ex-chairman  Tom  O'Carroll. 

The  three  men  are  expected  to  have  to 
go  through  another  trial  with  a  new 
jury,  possibly  within  two  weeks. 

O'Carroll  was  cautiously  optimistic. 
"It's  an  advance  on  square  one.  Some- 
thing important  has  been  indicated  by 
the  four  not-guilty  verdicts  and  the  in- 
ability of  the  jury  to  find  any  guilty  ver- 
dicts. There  will  be  fewer  issues  and  one 
defendant  fewer  next  time,  so  we  may 
be  able  to  get  acquittals  all  around." 

Media  reaction  to  the  case  was  not  as 
sensational  as  had  been  feared,  al- 
though one  London  paper,  the  Daily 
Star,  ran  the  headline  "Evil  Lust  in 
Child  Sex  Mag."  Members  of  the  Cam- 
paign Against  Public  Morals  organized 
a  picket  of  about  25  people  outside  the 
court  on  the  first  day  of  the  trial  to  de- 
mand free  speech  for  pedophiles,  an  end 
to  the  conspiracy  laws  and  the  dropping 
of  all  charges  in  the  case.D 

Worker  retains  job 
in  security  agency 

WASHINGTON,  DC  —  In  what  could 
become  a  precedent-setting  case,  the 
National  Security  Agency  (NSA)  has 
permitted  a  gay  employee  to  keep  his 
job  and  his  top-secret  security  clear- 
ance. The  NSA  is  an  arm  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Defense  which  monitors  world- 
wide telecommunications  and  attempts 
to  break  coded  intelligence  messages. 

The  employee,  who  has  chosen  to  re- 
main anonymous,  has  worked  for  the 
NSA  for  six  years.  When  his  superiors 
discovered  last  July  that  he  was  gay,  he 
was  asked  to  resign.  However,  the  em- 
ployee took  his  case  to  Franklin 
Kameny,  a  prominent  gay  member  of 
the  Washington  DC  Commission  on 
Human  Rights.  Kameny  fired  a  number 
of  letters  off  to  the  NSA,  and  eventually 
an  internal  agency  investigation  was 
undertaken.  As  a  result  of  this  in- 
vestigation, the  NSA  decided  late  in 
October  to  let  the  employee  stay  if  he 
told  his  family  of  his  homosexuality  and 
agreed  not  to  engage  in  illegal  sexual 
activity. 

Donald  C  Schwartz,  general  counsel 
for  the  NSA,  said  that  the  case  should 
not  be  considered  cither  as  a  precedent 
or  as  a  change  in  agency  policy.  How- 
ever, Schwartz  conceded  that  the  final 


Among  the  demonstrators  outside  London 's  Old  Bailey  during  the  PIE  conspiracy  trial  were 
members  of  Gay  Noise,  a  militant  biweekly  which  sprang  from  the  heart  of  Brixton  last  August. 


decision  to  retain  the  employee  was  im- 
portant enough  to  be  referred  directly  to 
the  NSA  director,  Navy  Vice-Admiral 
Bobby  Ray  Inman. 

According  to  sources  cited  by  the 
Washington  Post,  the  decision  has 
created  a  minor  dispute  within  the  NSA 
and  other  US  intelligence  agencies.  One 
faction  supports  the  NSA  decision,  while 
the  other  holds  the  view  that  lesbians 
and  gay  men  would  be  susceptible  to 
blackmail  by  "hostile  intelligence 
services.  "□ 

Hong  Kong  inquiry 
reveals  police  crimes 

HONG  KONG  —  One  year  after  the 
death  of  Police  Inspector  John 
MacLennan,  an  official  inquiry  is  con- 
tinuing to  unravel  a  tangled  story  of 
blackmail,  prostitution,  police  brutality 
and  entrapment.  It  is  now  estimated 
that  the  inquiry  will  last  at  least  until  the 
end  of  March. 

MacLennan  was  found  dead  in  his 
flat  in  January  1980,  just  before  he  was 
to  be  arrested  on  charges  of  homosexual 
behaviour.  Although  there  were  five 
bullet  wounds  on  his  body,  police  ruled 
the  case  a  suicide.  The  ensuing  scandal 
resulted  in  a  full  government  inves- 
tigation. 

A  key  witness,  Senior  Police  Inspec- 
tor Michael  Fulton,  has  claimed  that  the 
Special  Investigation  Unit  (SlU)  of  the 
Royal  Hong  Kong  Police  attempted  to 
force  him  to  "set  up"  MacLennan  on 
homosexual  charges.  Another  witness 
testified  that,  before  his  death,  Mac- 
Lennan had  claimed  to  have  seen  a 
police  list  of  suspected  homosexuals 
that  was  "political  dynamite"  which 
could  "blow  the  lid  off  the  colony." 
According  to  Chief  Inspector  Matthew 
Anderson,  MacLennan  had  said  it 
would  be  more  than  his  life  was  worth 
to  reveal  the  names. 

Other  witnesses  have  reported  cases 
of  police  blackmail.  A  young  masseur 
and  (wo  male  prostitutes  said  they  were 
slapped,  kicked  and  had  their  hair 
pulled  during  police  questioning. 


The  inquiry  continues  to  generate 
interest  in  the  colony's  English  language 
press,  but  the  Chinese  media  have  gen- 
erally ignored  the  topic.  Still,  revela- 
tions of  blackmail  and  gang-controlled 
prostitution  have  given  ammunition  to 
those  demanding  reform  of  laws  which 
make  all  homosexual  acts  illegal  in 
Hong  Kong.D 

Israeli  disco  fights 
ignorance  of  the  clap 

TEL  AVIV  —  The  Israeli  gay  organiza- 
tion The  Society  for  the  Protection  of 
Personal  Rights  (SPPR)  organized  its 
second  Disco-Syphilis  over  Hanukkah, 
and  the  event  is  being  hailed  as  a  "text- 
book example  of  community  preventa- 
tive medicine." 

Volunteer  gay  doctors  took  free  blood 
samples  at  the  party,  which  featured 
disco  music  and  special  Hanukkah  deli- 
cacies. "Many  people,  although  actively 
gay  for  some  time,  had  never  before  had 


a  blood  test,"  said  Asher  Ma'ayan,  a 
spokesperson  for  the  SPPR.  "They  just 
weren't  informed  as  to  the  dangers  of 
syphilis  and  they  didn't  know  how  sim- 
ple it  is  to  take  precautions." 

Although  the  incidence  of  syphilis  in 
Israel  is  relatively  low,  there  is  constant 
danger  of  the  disease  being  imported 
from  abroad. 

The  SPPR  provides  a  range  of  services 
to  Israeli  gays,  and  is  supplying  infor- 
mation on  homosexuality  to  universi- 
ties, kibbutzim  and  the  media.  The 
group  is  presently  raising  funds  to 
establish  the  country's  first  gay  com- 
munity centre.  □ 

Morals  rap  dropped 
against  Brazil  mag 

RIO  DE  JANEIRO  —  A  judge  has 
dismissed  charges  of  "outrages  against 
public  morality  and  good  mores" 
brought  almost  two  years  ago  against 
Lampiao,  Brazil's  leading  gay  journal. 

The  Lampiao  case  was  the  focus  of  a 
campaign  of  international  solidarity  by 
gay  groups  around  the  world.  Forty-six 
organizations  from  twenty-two  coun- 
tries, as  well  as  twenty-three  periodicals 
from  twelve  countries,  sent  letters  to  the 
minister  of  justice  demanding  that 
charges  against  the  paper  be  dropped. 
"This  solidarity  from  foreign  organiza- 
tions provided  the  support  that  prevent- 
ed the  minister  from  ordering  the  sei- 
zure of  the  paper,"  said  Joao  Antonio 
De  Souza  Mascarenhas,  a  Lampiao 
spokesperson. 

The  case  also  generated  support  from 
forces  struggling  for  democracy  in 
Brazil.  The  paper  was  publicly  defended 
by  state  representative  Fernando 
Morais,  who  is  also  vice  president  of  the 
Sao  Paulo  professional  journalists 
union. 

"As  a  citizen,  as  a  journalist  and  as  a 
member  of  the  assembly  I  am  joining 
Lampiao  and  their  staff  in  the  fight  that 
is  not  theirs  alone,  but  belongs  to  the 
entire  population  —  the  fight  for  com- 
plete freedom  of  expression,"  said 

Morris. 


Australian  state  leads  field 
in  progressive  sex-law  reform 


MELBOURNE  —  A  five-year  struggle 
by  the  Victorian  Homosexual  Law  Re- 
form Coalition  (VHLRC)  was  crowned 
with  success  December  18  when  the  Leg- 
islative Assembly  passed  a  new  Sexual 
Offences  Bill  abolishing  the  offence  of 
"buggery"  and  setting  the  age  of  con- 
sent at  16.  The  bill  also  allows  those 
under  16  to  have  sex  if  their  partner  is 
less  than  two  years  older.  It  makes  pro- 
vision for  married  persons  to  bring  rape 
charges  against  their  spouses,  and  pro- 
vides protection  for  young  people 
against  sexual  exploitation  by  those  in 
positions  of  authority.  The  law  draws 
no  distinction  between  males  and 
females,  or  homosexuals  and  hetero- 
sexuals. 

The  only  "fly  in  the  ointment"  was  a 
last-minute  amendment  which  set  penal 
ties  for  "soliciting  in  a  public  place  for 
immoral  purposes . " 


"It  amounts  to  a  total  inconsistency 
with  the  rest  of  the  legislation,"  said 
Jamie  Gardiner,  VHLRC  spokesperson. 
"I'm  optimistic  that  the  courts  and 
eventually  Parliament  will  throw  it  out 
before  the  end  of  the  year." 

Gardiner  said  he  was  "delighted"  by 
the  bill  despite  the  amendment.  "I  think 
this  is  the  most  progressive  attempt  at 
homosexual  law  reform  in  the  English- 
speaking  world.  The  Victorian  laws  are 
in  many  ways  better  than  South  Aus- 
tralia's, and  light  years  ahead  of 
England,  Canada  and  many  states  in 
America." 

The  Coalition  is  now  calling  for 
Clemency  for  all  those  serving  time  in 
prison  lor  offences  which  arc  BO  longer 
crimes  under  the  new  law  .  and  [Mans  to 
turn  Us  attention  to  law  reform  in  the 
ateas  of  health,  immigration  and  super- 
annuation 


MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/19 


New  York  Supreme  Court  junks 
"deviant  sexual  intercourse"  law 


NEW  YORK  —  In  a  landmark  five-to- 
two  decision,  the  Appellate  Division  of 
the  New  York  Supreme  Court  struck 
down  last  December  a  state  law  which 
prohibited  consensual  oral  and  anal  sex 
between  unmarried  adults,  both  hetero- 
sexual and  gay.  The  majority  decision 
held  that  the  "sodomy  law"  violated 
the  right  to  privacy  and  equal  protection 
sections  of  the  United  States  Consti- 
tution. 

The  court's  ruling  was  handed  down 
in  a  case  involving  an  appeal  by  Ronald 
Onofre,  38,  of  Onondaga  County, 
New  York.  In  April  1978,  Onofre  had 
been  found  guilty  of  a  Class  B  misde- 
meanor, "deviant  sexual  intercourse," 
for  having  sex  in  his  own  home  with  a 
consenting  male  partner.  Onofre,  who 
describes  himself  as  bisexual,  said  the 
case  had  cost  him  his  job  and  his  per- 
sonal relationships.  "I  have  been 
drained  financially,  physically  and  men- 
tally," he  explained.  "I  had  to  go  on 
unemployment  and  then,  reluctantly, 


Scots  urge  debate 
on  Third  World  gays 

EDINBURGH  —  The  Scottish 
Homosexual  Rights  Group  is  taking  the 
initiative  to  press  the  upcoming  Inter- 
national Gay  Association  (1GA)  con- 
ference for  fuller  discussion  of  the  situa- 
tion of  gays  in  the  Third  World.  This 
year's  1GA  conference  is  being  held  in 
Turin  over  Easter. 

The  SHRG  has  also  decided  to  "twin" 
itself  with  the  gay  movement  in  Jamaica 
to  help  cover  the  expenses  of  a  Jamai- 
can delegate  to  the  Turin  meeting.  Fol- 
lowing the  Scottish  lead,  Britain's  Cam- 
paign for  Homosexual  Equality  will 
probably  twin  with  Hong  Kong,  and  the 
Dutch  ('()('  with  a  Latin  American 
group. 

In  a  discussion  paper  now  available 
from  the  IGA,  the  SHRG  expresses  con- 
cern that,  unless  action  is  taken,  there  is 
a  danger  that  the  IGA  will  remain  a 
Western  organization,  specifically  con- 
cerned with  European  matters.  The  doc- 
ument calls  for  the  free  provision  of  lit- 
erature to  Third  World  gay  organiza- 
tions and  subsidies  for  IGA  delegates 
from  Africa,  the  far  east,  the  West 
Indies  and  South  America. □ 


Labour  leader  calls 
for  absolute  equality 

LONDON  —  Tony  Benn,  a  major 
figure  in  the  left  wing  of  the  British 
Labour  Party  and  possibly  the  next  par- 
ty leader,  has  called  on  the  party  and 
the  trade  union  movement  to  take  a  lead 
in  the  political  battle  for  gay  rights. 

Benn  called  on  the  party  to  issue  a 
comprehensive  policy  statement,  bind- 
ing on  any  future  Labour  government, 
which  would  propose  laws  to  protect 
gay  men  and  lesbians  from  discrimina- 
tion. 

"There  should  be  absolute  equality  in 
law  between  heterosexual  and  homo- 
sexual men  and  women,"  said  Benn. 
"The  present  inequality  relating, 
amongst  other  things,  to  the  definition 
of  privacy,  the  differing  ages  of  con- 
sent, the  exclusion  from  the  armed  ser- 
vices and  the  merchant  navy,  cannot  be 


welfare." 

In  its  ruling,  the  court  declared  that 
the  state  had  not  shown  "how  govern- 
ment interference  with  the  practice  of 
personal  choice  in  matters  of  intimate 
sexual  behavior  out  of  the  view  of  the 
public  and  with  no  commercial  compo 
nent...  will  do  anything  other  than 
restrict  individual  conduct  and  impose  a 
concept  of  private  morality  chosen  by 
the  state." 

Bonnie  Strunk,  attorney  for  Onofre. 
expects  that  this  decision  will  improve 
the  chances  of  lesbians  and  gays  win- 
ning legal  anti-discrimination  battles.  It 
can  no  longer  be  charged,  she  noted, 
that  the  plaintiffs  in  discrimination 
cases  were  involved  in  illegal  activity. 

With  this  successful  appeal,  New 
York  becomes  the  24th  jurisdiction  in 
the  US  to  decriminalize  private  sexual 
conduct  between  consenting  adults.  The 
majority  of  states,  26  in  all,  continue  to 
prohibit  some  form  of  consensual  sex- 
>ial  practice  between  adults.  □ 


justified  and  must  be  completely  swept 
away." 

Benn  was  speaking  at  a  House  of 
Commons  press  conference  to  launch  a 
new  booklet  called  Gay  Workers,  Trade 
Unions  and  the  Law.  The  Labour  leader 
contributed  a  two  and  a  half  page 
foreword  to  the  booklet,  published  by 
the  National  Council  for  Civil 
Liberties.  □ 


Minneapolis  schools 
ban  homo  discussion 

MINNEAPOLIS  —  Superintendent  of 
Schools  Richard  Green  oanned  an  edu- 
cational panel  of  lesbians  and  gay  men 
December  9  from  this  city's  elementary 
public  schools,  and  is  now  considering  a 
similar  ban  for  the  secondary  schools. 

The  prohibited  panel  would  have  dis- 
cussed such  aspects  of  lesbian  and  gay 
lifestyles  as  myths  and  stereotypes, 
history,  family  relations,  and  minority 
rights. 

Green  is  also  considering  an  across- 
the-board  prohibition  of  any  discussion 
of  homosexuality  in  the  school  system. 
If  such  an  action  were  taken,  homosex- 
uality would  be  the  only  forbidden  sub- 
ject in  the  city's  schools. 

"It's  the  quesiton  of  where  we  draw 
the  line  on  the  discussion  of  personal 
lifestyles,"  Green  told  the  Minneapolis 
school  board.  "And  I  think  by  this 
panel  we've  gone  beyond  that  line." 
Two  members  of  the  board,  including 
Chairperson  Marilyn'Borea,  have  en- 
dorsed Green's  stand,  but  the  five  other 
members  support,  in  some  form,  both 
the  panel  and  the  classroom  discussion 
of  homosexuality. 

The  director  of  support  services  for 
the  city  school  system,  Betty  Jo  Zander, 
has  also  gone  on  record  as  opposed  to 
Green.  "This  is  a  resource  which  is  sore- 
ly needed,"  she  told  Boston's  Gay 
Community  News. 

Polly  Kellog,  director  of  the  Les- 
bian/Gay Curriculum  Project  for  the 
Education  Exploration  Centre,  the 
group  which  sponsored  the  panel, 
agrees  with  Zander.  Kellog  is  optimistic 
that  a  ban  on  speakers  in  the  secondary 
schools  can  be  avoided.  "Minneapolis 
has  a  high  consciousness  and  a  suppor- 
tive overall  attitude,"  she  said.D 


Cookies  offend 
Moral  Majority       ^ 

ANNAPOLIS,  MD  —  There's  just  no 
stopping  the  fundamentalist  right.  First 
it  was  book-burnings,  then  it  was 
smashing  rock-&-roll  records,  and  now 
it's...  gingerbread-cookie  trashing. 

James  Wright,  Executive  Director  of 
Maryland  Moral  Majority,  walked  into 
a  local  bakery,  took  one  look  at  a  set  of 
explicit  gingerbread  cookies,  and  left 
outraged.  "They  sell  obscene  cookies 
and  there's  no  way  you  can  get  around 
it,"  a  righteous  Wright  reported  to  the 
press.  He  demanded  immediate  legal 
action. 

Frederick  Paone,  a  Maryland  assis- 
tant state's  attorney  assigned  to  the 
case,  found  the  cookies  "personally  dis- 
gusting," but  not  illegal.  It  was  all  a 
fine  point  of  law,  Paone  explained. 
"All  I  saw  was  a  visual  representation 
of  a  gingerbread  man,  not  a  visual  rep- 
resentation of  a  person." 

Kathy  Halter,  owner  of  the  bakery, 
was  somewhat  pleased  with  the  Moral 
Majority's  attention.  "We  expect  to 
triple  our  sales  after  this  free  publicity," 
she  said.D 

US  armed  forces 
win  total  exclusion 

WASHINGTON,  DC  —  The  US 
Department  of  Defense  issued  January 
16  a  new  set  of  regulations  which  ex- 
cludes all  avowed  homosexuals,  without 
exception,  from  the  military  services. 
These  new  regulations  were  adopted 
from  a  joint  proposal  prepared  by  the 
general  counsel  offices  of  the  US  Army, 
Navy,  Air  Force  and  Marine  Corps. 

Under  the  previous  policy  some  bran- 
ches of  the  military,  such  as  the  Air 
Force,  retained  a  "discretionary  clause" 
which  allowed  for  the  retention  of  les- 
bians and  gay  men  under  "exceptional 
circumstances."  However,  in  the  recent 
court  appeal  in  the  Matlovich  case,  the 


Air  Force  was  unable  to  specify  what 
those  "exceptional  circumstances" 
would  be,  and,  as  a  result,  US  District 
Court  Judge  Gerhard  Gesell  ordered 
Matlovich's  reinstatement.  The  new 
regulations  are  designed  to  insure  that 
this  difficulty  would  not  arise  again. 

The  Department  of  Defense  policy 
now  calls  for  the  discharge  of  indiv- 
iduals who  "have  engaged  in,  attempted 
to  engage  in,  or  solicited  another  to 
engage  in  a  homosexual  act  or  acts...." 

In  a  related  matter,  Sergeant  Harold 
Bryant,  a  13-year  veteran  of  the  US  Air 
Force,  was  discharged  from  the  service 
January  14  because  he  is  gay.  The  Air 
Force  discharged  Bryant  only  two  hours 
after  the  US  Appeals  Courts  for  Wash- 
ington DC  denied  Bryant's  petition  to 
retain  his  military  status  until  the  com- 
pletion of  the  lengthy  appeals 
process.  □ 

Surinam  gay  group 
breaks  new  ground 

AMSTERDAM  —  Gays  from  the 
former  South  American  Dutch  colony 
of  Surinam  have  begun  to  organize  in 
Holland  after  the  publication  of  a 
report  entitled  Homosexuals  from 
Surinam,  A  Forgotten  Group  in  Dutch 
Society. 

The  group  is  working  to  raise 
awareness  about  homosexuality  among 
immigrants  from  their  country.  They 
are  preparing  publications  in  Hindi  and 
Dutch  for  an  outreach  programme  to 
Surinam  itself.  There  are  also  plans  for 
a  Surinam  gay  and  lesbian  festival  in 
Amsterdam  later  this  year.D 


International  News  Credits 
Gay  News  (London),  Campaign 
(Sydney),  Pink  Triangle  (New  Zealand), 
International  Gay  Association  Bulletin 
(Dublin),  The  Blade  (Washington  DC), 
Gay  Community  News  (Boston),  Gay 
Life  (Chicago). 


20/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


BocfyPbliiic 


New  Gays;  Old  Wounds!  Not 
Afraid  Anymore!  They  finally 
settled  on  Sharing  the  Secret: 
Selected  Gay  Stories. 
"The  film  you  are  about  to  see 
contains  powerful  subject  matter, 
including  rare  and  rarely  glimpsed 
aspects  of  homosexual  life.  It  is  not 
about  the  obvious  homosexual  stereo- 
types, such  as  drag  queens  or  boys  in 
heavy  leather.  Nor  is  it,  to  any  great  ex- 
tent, about  vocal  gay  militants.  This 
film  takes  us  into  a  still  largely  closeted 
world,  to  meet  a  few  of  the  other  gays, 
people  who  have  come  forward,  at 
whatever  risk,  to  share  some  of  their 
secrets  and  their  feelings  with  us.  No 
single  film  could  hope  to  encompass  the 
entire  gay  world  or  the  complex  of 
people  and  attitudes  within  it.  Instead, 
six  individual  subjects  have  been 
chosen.  Their  stories  are  their  own  and 
what  they  say  is  not  necessarily  rep- 
resentative of  other  gay  people.  The 
film  contains  scenes  which  some  viewers 
may  find  disturbing.  Parents  with 
children  present  are  urged  to  exercise 
discretion.  " 

Sharing  the  Secret  was  made  by  the 
renowned  mother  and  son  team  of  Rose 
and  John  Kastner.  As  a  young  journal- 
ist for  the  Toronto  Telegram,  John 
Kastner  used  to  cover  all  the  social 
movements  of  the  late  60s.  He  says  he 
got  the  idea  for  Sharing  the  Secret 
when,  looking  back  over  those  days,  he 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  only  one 
of  those  movements  that  wasn't  dead 
was  gay  liberation.  It  was  more  alive 
than  ever.  He  wanted  to  know  why,  and 
what  it's  impact  had  been  on  gay 
people. 

The  Kastner  team  has  two  Emmys 
awards  to  its  credit,  for  Four  Women,  a 
documentary  about  breast  cancer,  and 
Fighting  Back,  about  childhood  leu- 
kemia. It  was  on  the  basis  of  this  repu- 
tation that  mother  and  son  were  able  to 
secure  the  cooperation  of  the  six  gay 


The  Kastners  have 
won  two  Emmy  Awards  for 
their  intimate  probing  into 
the  lives  of  their  documentary 
subjects.  How  do  they  do  it? 
When  they  came  into  the  gay 
community,  we  found  out. 


TRADtWON 

SECRETS 

John  and  Rose  in  Homoland  m  An  article  by  Chris  Bearchell 


men  and  three  of  their  parents  who  par- 
ticipated in  this  latest  venture.  John  and 
Rose  spoke  to  some  500  people  before 
choosing  the  six  men  who  would  be  fea- 
tured. They  discovered  that  the  gay 
community  was  so  complicated  as  to  in- 
clude two  genders,  and  that  the  two 
genders  were  too  complicated  to  be 
encompassed  in  a  single  documentary. 
John  Kastner  says  they've  already 
filmed  about  one  third  of  a  follow-up 
on  lesbians. 

Sharing  the  Secret:  Selected  Gay 
Stories  was  telecast  across  Canada  by 
the  CBC  on  Sunday,  January  11  in 
prime  time,  from  9:00  to  10:30.  Before, 
during  and  after  that  90  minutes,  the 
film  was  the  focus  of  attention  and  con- 
troversy in  the  media,  in  all  those  Cana- 


dian homes,  in  many  work  places  and, 
above  all,  in  the  Toronto  gay  commun- 
ity where  the  film  was  made. 

Television  viewers  were  introduced  to 
the  cultured  son  of  a  wealthy  business- 
man who  tried  to  subdue  his  homosexu- 
ality with  physical  abuse;  two  lovers  — 
one  of  whom's  parents  went  through  in- 
credible anguish  in  the  struggle  to  ac- 
cept their  son;  a  man  who  is  obsessed 
with  his  appearance,  wardrobe  and  the 
fear  of  growing  old;  and  a  brilliant 
musician,  the  son  of  a  former  Anglican 
priest,  who  cruises  bars,  baths  and 
parks  in  search  of  sex  for  the  thrill  of  it. 

"Accept  that  no  gay  life  is  every  gay 
life,  and  Sharing  the  Secret:  Selected 
Gay  Stories  can  be  considered  a  useful 
ana  a  creditable  documentary,  the  best 


MARCH  1981 


probe  yet  of  a  world  many  fear,"  began 
a  review  by  Ottawa  Citizen  television 
critic  Richard  Labonte,  who  is  also  a 
contributor  to  TBP.  Labonte  told  me 
that  his  editor  was  responsible  for  the 
direct  praise  in  that  statement,  although 
he  approved  the  change.  "I  would  not 
have  been  so  uncritical  if  I'd  been  doing 
it  for  TBP  and  not  a  straight  audience. 
It  wasn't  as  negative  as  CBS's  Gay  Pow- 
er, Gay  Politics.  Sure  there  were  twits  in 
it,  but  they  could  have  chosen  worse." 

A  lesbian  aquaintance  said  to  me,  "It 
seemed  okay  to  me.  That's  what  life's 
like  for  gay  men,  isn't  it?" 

"I  thought  we  left  the  pardon-me- 
for-living  mentality  behind  years  ago," 
said  one  friend,  "Although  the  bar, 
bath  and  park  stuff  was  handled  well 
enough  to  look  appealing,  mostly  it  was 
boring."  Said  another,  "If  this  had 
been  the  tenth  good  film  on  homosex- 
uality to  come  out  of  Canada,  then 
maybe  it  would  have  been  okay  to  do  an 
'Everything  you've  always  wanted  to 
know  about  cruising  (but  were  afraid  to 
ask).'  But  that's  hardly  the  case." 

But  the  most  enlightening  comments 
of  all  came  from  the  men  who  shared 
their  secrets  with  the  Kastners.  I  was 
able  to  talk  to  five  of  them. 
■ 

"Andre  Fortin,"  said  the  voice  of 
narrator  Margaret  Pacsu,  who  also 
delivered  the  introduction  quoted 
above,  "patrician  and  ambitious,  who 
regarded  his  homosexuality  as  an  obsta- 
cle to  his  success  to  bo  stamped  oul  at 
any  cost." 

Andre  Fortin  is  actually  Pierre 
Robitaille,  Ihc  Kastners  suggested  the 
name  change  because  it  would  contrib- 
ute U)  the  drama  and  because  there  weft 
other  Peter's  Involved  in  the  film    Pierre 
called  me  as  lOOl)  as  he  heard  1  was  in- 
terested in  writing  about  Sharing  the 

s, ,  ret. 

On  Camera,  Pierre  had  slow!)  and 
cabal)  related  what  he'd  experienced 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/21 


growing  up  gay  —  before  he'd  come  to 
terms  with  his  homosexuality.  He  des- 
cribed his  fear  of  hurting  his  parents 
with  the  revelation,  the  agony  of  keep- 
ing up  a  straight  facade,  and  an  impulse 
to  mutilate  himself  while  masturbating. 

"My  mother  started  getting  sympathy 
calls  the  next  morning,"  he  told  me. 
Unlike  some  of  the  other  participants, 
Pierre  was  not  disguised  physically.  To 
make  matters  a  little  more  confusing  for 
his  mother's  friends,  he  has  a  brother 
whose  name  is  Andre. 

Pierre  Robitaille  says  Sharing  the 
Secret  "took  what  I  said  about  myself, 
about  the  way  I  was  ten  years  ago,  and 
made  it  look  like  I'm  still  that  way  to- 
day. The  segment  in  which  I  reflected 
on  my  adolescence  was  sincere  in  con- 
tent. But  the  film  did  not  in  any  way 
reflect  the  process  I've  gone  through, 
and  how  what  I  went  through  was  a  re- 
sult of  my  status  as  a  homosexual,  not 
something  intrinsic  to  me  as  a  gay  per- 
son. I'm  a  much  happier,  wittier,  laid 
back  person  since  I've  come  out.  I've 
evolved,  matured.  The  joy,  the  uplift- 
ing, the  struggle  of  working  out  my 
gayness  with  my  family  and  friends  — 
that  was  all  on  tape  too,  but  it  was 
shelved  away." 


LI 


Rocco  Fermi  —  who  even  as 
he  cruises  the  bars  for  men 
dreams  of  another  life  with 
a  wife  and  children,"  said 
the  Kastners'  script,  comes 
from  a  large,  Italian  Catholic  family.  A 
small-town  boy  with  small-town  values, 
Rocco  (not  his  real  name)  describes  how 
he  is  caught  up  in  the  bar  scene  —  on  a 
perpetual  quest  for  "Mr  Wonderful." 
He  is  shown,  at  27,  dreading  the  day  he 
reaches  30,  and  perusing  a  huge  ward- 
robe which  he  estimates,  along  with 
cosmetics  and  jewellery,  consumes 
almost  50%  of  his  income. 

"I  did  the  film,"  Rocco  told  me, 
"because  I  thought  the  gay  issue  was 
important.  I  thought  it  was  worth  it  if  I 
could  help  somebody."  When  I  asked  if 
he  thought  the  film  or  its  producers 
treated  him  fairly,  he  paused  and  finally 
said  he  got  across  what  he  wanted  to. 
"When  I  first  saw  the  film  I  was  very 
critical  of  myself  in  it,  but  when  I  saw  it 
again  later  I  felt  good  about  it.  I'm  gay; 
I  accept  it.  Some  people  have  said  they 
feel  sorry  for  me.  That  wasn't  what  I 
intended." 

I  asked  why  what  he  had  to  say 
seemed  limited  to  a  very  narrow  range 
of  concerns.  "They  were  trying  to  get 
different  perspectives  from  different 
people  —  we  couldn't  all  say  the  same 
thing.  I  was  taped  for  two  and  a  half 
hours  and  I  said  a  lot  more  than  what 
you  saw,  but  I  put  it  in  John's  hands. 
I  trusted  John." 

Tracy  Angles  (the  Kastners  dubbed 
him  Lee  Murdoch),  remembers  "so  dis- 
tinctly sitting  on  the  couch  while  some- 
one was  putting  a  wig  on  me,  and  ask- 
ing them  whether  they  were  going  to 
do  stuff  on  the  baths  and  the  parks. 
And  they  said  no.  I  remember  it  really 
well." 

Tracy's  parents,  "the  Murdochs," 
were  described  as  "the  straight-laced 
parents  who  discovered  that  the  homo- 
sexual lifestyle  they  find  so  repugnant 
has  been  taken  up  by  the  son  they 
cherish."  Tracy  and  his  parents,  who 
live  in  a  small  town  in  Ontario  (not  in 


Vancouver)  have  argued  vigorously 
about  the  film.  "I  guess  it's  important 
that  people  think  it  was  good;  mind  you 
I  can't  imagine  why  they  would  think 
that,"  he  sighed. 

Steven  Tattle,  Tracy's  lover,  says  the 
Kastners  didn't  ask  him  about  anything 
besides  his  relationship  with  Tracy. 
"They  seemed  to  think  my  involvement 
with  the  community  was  too  political.  A 
lot  of  older  straight  people  I've  talked 
to  really  liked  the  film.  I  think  that's 
because  their  stereotypes  were  upheld. 
There  were  no  challenges  to  what 
they've  always  thought  about  us." 

June  Tattle,  Steven's  mother,  was 
also  among  those  who  were  not  happy 
with  the  way  they  were  treated  by  the 
Kastners.  June  is  the  founder  of  the 
Toronto  Parents  of  Gays  group;  in  the 
film  she  was  the  mother  who  didn't  get 
to  say  much.  They  taped  a  lot  of  her 
(saying  very  positive  things,  she  says) 
but  told  her  they  were  having  technical 
difficulties  and  most  of  the  footage 
wasn't  usable. 

She  spent  a  year  helping  the  Kastners 
pull  together  some  aspects  of  the  show. 
"Over  the  last  year  I  was  on  the  phone 
to  Rose  Kastner  two  or  three  times  a 
week,"  she  told  me.  "If  you  only  knew 
how  many  people  I  talked  to  for  them. 
People  who  trusted  me.  And  trusted 
them  —  because  of  their  reputation. 
They  said  they  wanted  to  do  something 
positive.  I  must  have  heard  that  word  a 
million  times." 

June  feels  the  assurances  came  to 
nothing.  "The  film  was  so  depressing. 
Things  were  thrown  in  for  shock  value. 
The  scenes  in  the  bar,  for  instance.  We 
all  know  bars  exist.  Straight  bars  exist. 


So  what?  What  do  they  have  to  do  with 
a  positive  image?" 

June  was  also  very  upset  that,  despite 
her  efforts  to  do  so,  she  was  not  able  to 
see  a  preview  of  the  film.  Tracy  and 
Steven  didn't  get  to  see  Sharing  the 
Secret  in  advance,  either.  Steven  says  he 
"felt  really  bitter  every  time  I  read  in 
the  press  that  all  of  the  people  in  it  had 
been  given  the  opportunity  to  see  it." 

The  Kastners  have  said  contradictory 
things  about  the  kind  of  power  the  par- 
ticipants had  over  how  they  were  por- 
trayed. They  have  claimed  that  everyone 
in  their  films  has  veto  power  over  what 
is  said  and  shown  about  them.  It  was 
the  first  question  I  asked  when,  in  the 
beginning  of  their  project,  Rose  Kastner 
approached  The  Body  Politic  for 
assistance.  She  boasted  that  it  was  stan- 
dard practice  for  them. 

John  Kastner  later  told  the  Toronto 
Star  that  The  Body  Politic  threw  up  a 
major  roadblock  in  their  way  by  telling 
people  to  make  sure  they  had  that  veto 
power  before  cooperating  with  the  film- 
makers."You  just  can't  work  with  those 
kind  of  restrictions,"  Kastner  told  the 
Star.  The  paper  went  on  to  say,  paren- 
thetically, that  "In  the  end  the  Kastners 
did  screen  the  program  for  the  six  prin- 
cipals. None  of  them,  or  their  families, 
objected  to  the  treatment  they 
received." 

That  information  presumably  came 
directly  from  John  Kastner.  Later, 
Kastner  told  me  that  most  of  the  gay 
people  in  the  film  had  seen  it.  When  I 
told  him  that  I'd  been  talking  to  some 
of  them,  he  clarified:  "At  least  two- 
thirds  of  them.  We  tried  to  set  some- 
thing up  for  the  remaining  ones  —  those 


kids  who  were  so  upset  they  didn't  see 
it,  Steven  and  Lee  (Tracy  Angles).  We 
thought  they  shpuld  see  it  with  the 
parents,  as  a  bunch.  That  couldn't  be 
arranged,  but  we  tried.  Just  ask  the 
parents."  Tracy  told  me  they  ap- 
proached his  parents,  who  have  a  very 
inflexible  schedule,  once  —  the  night 
before  they  wanted  them  to  come  to  a 
screening. 

In  a  later  conversation,  Kastner  final- 
ly told  me  that  he  and  Rose  "did  this 
film  differently  from  the  others.  We 
didn't  give  the  subjects  veto  power.  We 
had  them  sign  contracts  for  small  hon- 
ourariums  which  were,  in  effect,  releas- 
es. We  only  agreed  to  show  it  to  people 
in  advance  as  a  courtesy." 

Peter  Shaffter  is  described  by  the 
Romper-Room  voice  of  CBC 
narrator  Pacsu  as  "a  proud  gay 
who  embarked  on  an  odyssey  of 
erotic  pleasure  through  the  secret 
world  of  gay  male  sex."  Shaffter,  whose 
name  was  changed  only  slightly  to 
Shaver  at  the  Kastners'  suggestion,  did 
get  to  see  the  film,  twice  in  fact.  He 
made  a  number  of  suggestions  —  some 
of  which  made  it  into  the  final  version. 
"But  the  one  specific  request  I  made 
was  ignored.  I  never,  in  the  film,  call 
myself  a  'sexual  revolutionary.'  While  I 
may  hope  my  actions  are  revolutionary, 
I  don't  like  labels  of  any  kind.  I  found 
the  repetition  of  'sexual  revolutionary' 
and  'sexual  extremist'  embarassing  and 
silly,  so  I  asked  them  to  take  those 
references  out.  They  didn't." 

Peter  Schaffter  is  the  director  of 
Toronto's  Gay  Community  Choir.  He 
and  I  mused  over  coffee  about  the 
Kastners's  insistence  that  they  were  not 
focusing  on  vocal  militants,  and  the 
apparent  contradiction  in  the  fact  that, 
even  though  they  didn't  listen  to  him, 
he  seemed  to  have  more  control  than 
the  other  participants.  "John  Kastner 
doesn't  know  what  a  gay  militant  is," 
Peter  laughed.  "And  he  probably 
thought  that,  since  I  was  doing  what  I 
wanted  with  my  part  in  the  film,  he 
wasn't  in  danger  of  losing  me  by  show- 
ing it  to  me." 

Peter  took  the  Kastner  film  crew  on  a 
tour  of  the  three-story  Richmond  Street 
Health  Emporium  —  one  of  the  Toron- 
to steam  baths  that  was  raided  a  couple 
of  weeks  after  the  show  went  on  the  air. 
It  turned  out  to  be  the  most  controver- 
sial part  of  Sharing  the  Secret  for 
straights  and  gays  alike  —  including 
some  of  the  film's  other  participants. 
"I  have  a  strong  personal  belief  that 
gay  people  are  almost  never  portrayed 
accurately  because  we  talk  about  trying 
to  liberate  ourselves  without  addressing 
why.  We  say  that  we're  oppressed 
because  we're  different,  but  we  don't 
address  what  it  is  that  makes  us  dif- 
ferent —  our  sexuality. 

"I  knew  that  the  Kastners  would  be 
using  extreme  examples  to  delineate  the 
things  they  wanted  to  show.  I  ran  that 
risk  in  cooperating  with  them.  I  con- 
vinced them  I  could  play  one  of  the 
roles  in  their  documentary  with  the  in- 
tention of  using  the  role  to  transform, 
or  at  least  inform,  the  film.  I  wasn't  go- 
ing to  be  a  tortured,  suffering  homo- 
sexual for  them.  I  did  something  which 
I  saw  as  factual  rather  than  personal.  I 
thought  I  could  use  them  to  give  a  dis- 
passionate, factual  account  aimed  at  de- 


22/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


mystifying  some  of  the  more  misunder- 
stood aspects  of  gay  male  sexuality." 

"I  treated  some  things  with  more  levi- 
ty than  I  should  have.  Hustling,  for  in- 
stance. What  I  said  was  an  honest  de- 
scription of  what  it  was  like  for  me.  It 
wasn't  particularly  painful,  but  it  was 
more  complicated  than  I  wanted  to  get 
into  with  the  Kastners.  So  I  treated  it 
lightly,  without  thinking  about  what  it 
is  like  for  other  people,  without  real- 
izing I  was  trivializing  it." 

Lesbian  comic  Robin  Tyler  called 
TBP  from  Los  Angeles  after  she'd 
heard  that  the  show  had  been  broad- 
cast. She  hadn't  seen  it,  but  she  was 
angry. 

"I  let  those  guys  film  my  act,  but  I 
said  I  wouldn't  sign  a  release  until  I 
could  see  how  it  was  going  to  be  used. 
On  June  6, 1  received  a  'performer  con- 
tract' from  the  CBC,  dated  March  1980, 
for  $400.  They  were  trying  to  buy  me 
off.  I  contacted  them  and  said  'There's 
nothing  in  here  about  my  right  to  see 
the  thing.'  They  said,  'There  never  is.' 
I  said,  'Well  then,  you  can't  use 
anything  from  my  act.'  They  said,  'You 
can't  stop  us;  this  is  Canada.'" 

The  only  other  shot  of  lesbians  in 
Sharing  the  Secret  showed  the  Salukis,  a 
women's  softball  team.  The  sequence 
was  filmed  at  the  time  when  the  pro- 
gramme was  still  supposed  to  include 
women.  A  couple  of  members  of  the 
team  were  to  be  featured;  the  others 
were  told  they  would  only  be  in  the 
background.  One  of  the  women  who 
was  supposed  to  be  a  subject  of  the  film 
didn't  appear  in  the  shots  at  all.  Many 
others  did.  As  the  coach  explained  to 
me,  "There  are  women  on  the  team 
who  are  in  the  closet,  and  there  are 
straight  women  as  well.  For  those  of  us 
who  happened  to  be  watching  the  film 
that  night,  our  appearance  in  it  came  as 
a  complete  shock." 

Sharing  the  Secret  also  contains 
scenes  of  a  Metropolitan  Community 
Church  service  which  had  been  taken 
for  another  CBC  programme  a  couple 
of  years  before.  MCC's  pastor,  Brent 
Hawkes,  contacted  Man  Alive  only  to 
be  told  that  the  Church's  permission 
had  not  been  sought  because  the  people 
at  Man  Alive  were  unaware,  until 
receipt  of  MCC's  letter,  that  their  seg- 
ment had  been  used. 

Brent  Hawkes  has  a  particular  reason 
for  being  upset  at  the  use  of  MCC  in  the 
film.  "I  talked  to  Rose  Kastner  early  on 
in  the  production  of  the  film.  I  put  her 
in  touch  with  people  who  I  thought 
would  be  helpful.  Then  I  began  hearing 
rumours  that  there  were  bad  feelings 
among  some  of  the  people  who  had 
talked  to  her.  It  became  so  pervasive 
that  I  called  John  Kastner.  I  told  him  I 
would  feel  a  lot  better  about  trying  to 
put  people  at  ease  about  the  film  if  I 
could  see  it  myself.  He  was  reluctant  at 
first,  but  he  called  me  back  and  said  he 
could  make  arrangements  if  I  promised 
not  to  tell  anyone  what  I  saw.  So  I 
pledged  confidentiality. 

"I  took  three  full  pages  of  notes  of 
things  that  I  saw  that  upset  me.  I  was  so 
angry  I  almost  walked  out  a  couple  of 
times.  When  Kastner  came  back  in  at 
the  end  I  told  him  how  angry  I  was  and 
he  was  amazed  at  my  reaction.  He  said 
that  everyone  who  had  seen  it  —  gay  or 
straight  —  had  really  liked  it  and  that 
my  reaction  was  way  off  base.  I  gave 


him  my  notes  saying,  'Take  this  tempta- 
tion out  of  my  hands,'  and  left. 

"Confidentiality  is  very  important  to 
me.  I  wrestled  with  it  for  a  long  time. 
Finally  I  called  Nancy  Wilson,  my  elder 
in  Los  Angeles.  She  agreed  that  confi- 
dentiality was  important,  but  said  that  if 
I  thought  a  trust  with  the  gay  commun- 
ity had  been  broken,  I  should  do  some- 
thing about  it.  I  called  Kastner  and  told 
him  why  I  didn't  feel  obliged  to  keep 
the  pledge. 

"In  trying  to  talk  me  out  of  it  he  kept 
contradicting  himself.  Then  he  said, 
'Brent,  we  have  things  on  film  about 
you  that  could  prove  very  embarrassing. 
If  you  continue  to  protest,  I  can't 
guarantee  that  those  things  won't  get 
into  the  film.'  I  told  him  I  wouldn't  be 
pressured  that  way.  He  said,  'We  also 
have  things  on  gay  business  that  could 
prove  really  scandalous.' 

"Finally  I  said,  'If  you're  correct  and 
my  reactions  really  are  off  base,  I  want 
to  know  that.  I'll  select  a  small  commit- 
tee, made  up  of  men  and  women,  politi- 
cal people  and  non-political  people,  to 
see  the  film  and  I  won't  prejudice  them 
in  advance.  If  enough  of  them  say  it's 
all  right,  I'll  shut  up  about  it.'  He 
agreed.  He  told  me  that  the  documen- 
tary wouldn't  be  broadcast  until  late- 
spring  and  that  he'd  get  back  to  me  by 
early  January  to  set  up  another  preview. 
The  next  thing  I  heard  was  that  the  film 
was  going  on  the  air  on  January  II." 

I  can  understand  how  the  subjects  Ol 
Sharing  the  Secret  went  along  with  Rost- 
and John  Kastner.  Early  in  her  work  on 
the  film.  Rose  Kastner  called  mc,  gave 
me  a  brief  description  of  what  she  and 
John  wanted  to  do  and  asked  if  wc 


could  meet.  We  went  for  lunch. 

I  handed  her  a  long  letter  in  which  I'd 
outlined  some  of  my  initial  concerns 
based  on  that  first  brief  telephone  con- 
versation. She  had,  for  example,  prom- 
ised to  avoid  "all  the  stereotypes,  the 
obvious  ones." 

To  which  the  letter  said,  "There  is  no 
doubt  that  your  average  straight  man  is 
uptight  about  the  mincing  queens  he 
thinks  all  gay  men  are.  The  way  to  deal 
with  that  is  not  to  overlook  anyone  who 
might  give  some  credence  to  the  image 
(and  thus  contribute  to  their  oppression 
—  to  the  perception  of  them  as  invalid, 
an  embarassment,  as  less  than  human) 
in  favour  of  those  who  are  more  a 
reflection  of  yourselves,  your  world, 
your  values.  The  real  challenge  is  to 
show  the  person  who  is  obviously  and 
often  proudly  gay  as  a  survivor  in  a 
hostile  world." 

I    was  full  of  that  kind  of  advice  for 
Rose  and  John.  I  told  them  how  it 
felt  to  be  reduced  to  the  status  of  a 
case  history  or  to  be  subjected  to 
the  roving  eye  of  the  voyeur,  how 
insulting  it  was  for  lesbians  to  be 
relegated  to  invisibility.  And  I  know  1 
am  not  the  only  one  to  share  ideas,  in- 
formation, and  names  and  numbers 
from  my  phone  book  with  these  people 
only  to  be  disappointed. 

Sharing  the  Secret  was  shown  to  the 
press  in  advance  —  all  the  press,  that  is, 
except  the  gay  press.  I -asked  John 
Kastner  it  the  exclusion  of  I  lie  Hodv 
Polith   was  an  Oversight.  "It  was  a  con 

scions  decision.  We  though)  you  were 
already  prejudiced  against  the  film  be 

cause  you  told  people  not  to  cooperate 


with  us.  We  didn't  want  you  stirring 
things  up  in  advance." 

John  Kastner  has  been  patiently  send- 
ing The  Body  Politic  clippings  of 
favourable  reviews  with  cute  little  cover- 
ing notes.  They  say  things  like: 
•"Richard  Labonte,  a  Body  Politic  con- 
tributor, has  praised  the  film  in  the  Ot- 
tawa Citizen  as  the  best  film  ever  made 
about  gays  (see  enclosed  clipping)." 
•"Linda  Difalco  of  the  Ottawa  Citizen 
called  me  about  a  follow-up  piece  she  is 
writing,  and  said  that  Ottawa-area  les- 
bians are  demanding  to  know  when 
we're  going  to  do  a  similar  type  of  show 
on  lesbians.  This  positive  reaction  is  the 
sort  of  thing  we  have  been  hearing  from 
many  gays,  especially  from  those  out- 
side of  Toronto,  whose  reactions,  I  fear, 
may  be  influenced  by  some  highly  pol- 
itical activities  from  within  the  gay  com- 
munity." 

•"Any  film  which  Claire  Hoy  sneers  at 
as  a  90-minute  commercial  for  homo- 
sexuals can't  be  all  bad!" 
•"There  has  been  a  deliberate  campaign 
on  the  part  of  some  people  in  the  gay 
community,  for  reasons  of  their  own,  to 
discredit  the  film,  including  what  was 
supposed  to  be  a  highly  secret,  well- 
orchestrated  phone  campaign  to  the 
CBC.  I  am  also  aware  why  these  in- 
dividuals are  doing  this  —  that  it  is 
extremely  important  to  their  personal 
interests  to  do  so." 

People  did  phone  in  their  protests  to 
the  CBC.  The  idea  was  suggested  at  a 
public  meeting  where  a  group  of  com- 
munity activists  watched  the  broadcast 
of  Sharing  the  Secret.  It  was  one  of  the 
few  ways  people  had  to  make  their  feel- 
ings known,  it  was  hardly  a  secret  cam- 
paign, and  it  was  probably  no  better  or- 
chestrated than  such  things  usually  are. 

In  a  letter  to  Tracy  Angles  and  Steve 
Tattle,  Kastner  claimed,  "We  have  just 
learned  that  there  is  a  petition  support- 
ing the  film,  with  2,000  signatures,  from 
within  the  gay  community  on  its  way  to 
us.  Furthermore,  at  a  gay  community 
event  this  summer  we  are  to  be  present- 
ed with  a  trophy  for  service  to  the  gay 
community." 

Said  Tracy,  "I  haven't  heard  anything 
about  a  petition  and  I  can't  imagine 
anyone  in  the  gay  community  giving 
them  a  trophy  for  anything."  Neither 
can  I.  As  far  as  I  can  determine,  no 
such  petition  has  materialized. 

The  Kastners  traded  people  off 
against  each  other  in  the  film  (Tracy  and 
Steven  vs  "the  Murdochs")  and  pitted 
people  against  each  other  during  its  pro- 
duction as  well  —  Peter  against  June 
and  Steven  because  he  didn't  like  the 
way  they  laundered  the  gay  experience 
of  its  sexuality;  June  and  Steven  against 
Peter  because  they  didn't  like  the  waj 
he  left  gay  sexuality  open  lo  sensa- 
tionalism. They  also  succeeded  in  using 
the  people  in  the  film  against  the  rest  o( 
us  bj  exempting  themselves  From  res- 
ponsibilit)  tor  the  content  o\  Sharirii; 
the  Secret.  Hie  six  men  in  it.  the\ 
warned  us,  were  "telling  their  own 
stories."  \n\ one  who  got  upset  at  what 
that  content  seemed  to  he  sa\mg  about 
i\is  people,  all  meaningless  disclaimers 
aside,  was  lett  leseniing  those  six  ya\ 
individuals  (the  creeps,  the  freaks,  the 
mentall)  Ol)  rather  than  the  Kastners 

Much  of  this  exploitation  of  di\  ision 
is  designed  to  defied  criticism    John 
Kastner  calls  his  critics,  in  a  letter  to 


MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/23 


Peter  Shaffter,  "the  sour  grapes  set," 
meaning  that  they  are  jealous  because 
they  weren't  selected  to  be  immortalized 
in  Sharing  the  Secret.  Criticism  from 
gay  activists  is  made  to  seem  especially 
untrustworthy.  The  vocal  militants,  as 
Kastner  calls  them,  are  disqualified 
from  talking  about  gay  people  because, 
to  hear  him  tell  it,  "they  are  the  most 
untypical  gays.  An  open,  out-front  gay 
person,  who  lives  in  a  ghetto  surround- 
ed by  gay  people,  gets  relatively  few 
bruisings  by  the  straight  world.  We 
wanted  to  look  at  the  other  80  or  9097o 
who  are  still  in  the  closet  and  are 
therefore  suffering  gays.  The  majority 
of  gays  lead  secretive,  troubled,  fearful 
lives  —  that's  the  gay  mainstream,  the 
gay  silent  majority.  If  we  had  produced 
a  portrait  of  gay  people  as  well- 
adjusted,  problem-free  people  it  would 
have  been  a  phoney-baloney  portrait. 
But  not  only  would  it  have  been  false,  it 
would  have  been  useless.  You're  not 
going  to  win  any  friends  among  straight 
people  by  saying  you're  proud  and 
happy  to  be  who  you  are." 

The  fact  that  500  people  came  for- 
ward as  potential  participants  in  a 
documentary  for  national  television 
goes  some  way  to  answering  John 
Kastner's  question  about  the  impact  of 
gay  liberation  on  the  lives  of  gay  people. 
I  don't  think  Kastner  was  forced  to  re- 
ject most  of  those  people  because  they 
were  afraid  to  come  out  of  the  closet.  I 
suspect  many  of  them  were  simply 
familiar  enough  with  the  ways  of  big 
media  to  recognize  a  disaster  heading 
their  way.  The  Kastners  seem  to  have 
gone  through  500  people  by  eliminating 
anyone  who  was  a)  an  activist,  b)  a 
queen,  or  c)  some  other  "obvious 
type,"  —  and  by  alienating  a  good 
number  of  d)  all  of  the  above. 

Rose  Kastner  brags  that  she  "has  an 
unusual  ability  to  relate  to  people.  I 
know  that  as  a  researcher  for  a  subject  I 
can  get  anyone." 

Rose's  sensitivity  to  gay  people  has 
been  well-documented  by  the  straight 
press  in  what  promise  to  become  some 
of  the  most  quotable  quotes  of  the 
decade.  "Whatever  the  subject  is,  I 
want  the  viewer  to  think,  'There  but  for 
the  grace  of  God  go  I,'  whether  it's  a 
film  on  cancer  or  on  gay  people."  Rose 
began  her  research  by  screening  Boys  in 
the  Band,  and  said  about  gay  people 
afterwards,  "It's  the  first  time  I  could 
ever  relate  to  them."  Her  research  has 
apparently  proven  to  her  that  lesbians 
unlike  their  male  counterparts,  tend  to 
like  older  partners.  Indeed,  during  the 
preparation  of  the  documentary,  she 
told  the  Edmonton  Journal,  "girls 
young  enough  to  be  my  daughters  came 
on  to  me.  I'd  roll  my  eyes  to  the  ceiling 
and  say,  'God,  what  am  I  doing  for  the 
CBC!"  Best  of  all  has  to  be:  "I've  prob- 
ably got  everything  that's  been  written 
about  homosexuals  in  the  last  ten  years. 
It  really  sounds  presumptuous,  I  know, 
but  I  really  think  I  know  more  about 
gays  now  than  any  gay." 

John,  who's  truly  his  mother's  son, 
says  that  as  a  media  person  he's  always 
counted  gay  people  among  his  friends. 
Odd,  then,  that  he  should  also  say  of 
himself  when  he  began  to  research  Shar- 
ing the  Secret,  "I  was  afraid  I  was 
going  to  be  molested  or  jumped  on  or 
something.  I  was  also  amazed  at  how 
few  gay  men  are  mincing,  lisping,  limp- 


wristed  people."  And:  "We're  not  in- 
terested in  subjects  like  cannibalism  or 
pedophilia."  And:  "We  wanted  to  get 
people  who  would  be  honest  about  the 
pain,  people  who  could  tell  the  average 
person  about  the  inevitable  agonies  you 
must  go  through  with  this  kind  of 
thing." 

The  Kastners's  refusal  to  talk  to 
"militants"  or  "stereotypes"  —  and  the 
gay  community's  well-developed  sur- 
vival mechanism  of  distrust  for  the  un- 
trustable  —  were  not  the  only  factors 
screening  out  people  from  among  their 
500  prospects.  There  was  also  the  fact 
that  they  were  really  auditioning.  Rocco 
Fermi  said  there  were  different  perspec- 
tives that  each  subject  was  expected  to 
cover.  Peter  Shaffter's  description  of 
roles  is  probably  most  accurate.  Roles 
like:  Wealthy  but  maimed  (Andre 
Fortin);  lonely  and  youth-obsessed 
(Rocco  Fermi);  the  odd  couple  nurtur- 
ing their  cats  instead  of  kids  while  their 
parents  long  for  grandchildren  (Steven 
and  Lee);  the  sex-obsessed,  tortured  ar- 
tist (Peter  Shaver). 

The  distortions  inherent  in  this  ap- 
proach are  more  than  just  little 
white  lies  or  convenient  twists  of 
fact  for  the  sake  of  emphasis. 
They  are  a  part  of  something 
that  calls  itself  a  documentary.  The  very 
word  sounds  like  it's  engraved  in  stone. 
People  hear  it  and  think  lofty  things  like 
Truth  and  Reality.  They  don't  stop  to 
consider  the  changed  names,  the  dis- 
guised faces,  the  liberty  with  fact  and 
the  myriad  preconceptions  of  a  straight 
filmmaker  on  a  visit  to  the  gay  world. 
Given  such  an  approach,  it  should  be 


no  surprise  to  anyone  that  the  Kastners 
have  come  up  with  a  view  of  homosex- 
uality substantially  unchanged  from  the 
period  which  they  say  piqued  their 
curiosity  about  gay  people  in  the  first 
place.  Except  for  the  slightly  brighter 
lighting  and  the  slightly  greater  candour 
about  things  sexual,  this  film  could  have 
easily  have  been  made  ten  years  ago. 

All  the  distortions  are,  in  turn,  com- 
bined with  dubious  dramatization  to 
achieve  the  final  effect.  Andre  Fortin 
escapes  from  his  world  of  adolescent 
self-hatred  into  his  beautiful  universe  of 
3,000  classical  records;  sitting  in  shad- 
ow, headphones  on,  music  building  in 
a  shivering  crescendo.  Alice  Murdoch 
weeps  her  way  through  a  prolonged  and 
embarrassing  reconstruction  of  her  reac- 
tion to  her  son's  coming  out,  complete 
with  bizarre  and  unflattering  camera 
angles.  Tragic  music  wafts  in  periodic- 
ally, just  in  time  to  remind  us  to  be  sad. 
Peter  Shaver  takes  us  on  a  walking  tour 
of  David  Balfour  Park,  where  the  most 
innocent  of  shadows  take  on  all  the 
qualities  of  a  nightmare.  The  hidden 
depths  of  a  gay  steambath  are  probed 
by  a  camera  that  sees  no  faces,  only 
dim,  empty  hallways,  a  camera  that 
peers  suspiciously  into  darkened  rooms 
and  then  zips  away  at  a  crazy  angle  as  if 
embarrassed  at  having  caught  some  dir- 
ty business.  Accompanied  not  by  the 
baths'  usual  disco-muzak  but  by  the 
eerie  sound  of  footsteps,  these  shots 
subvert  Peter's  attempts  to  demystify 
gay  sex,  snatching  his  experience  from 
him  and  redefining  it  as  something 
creepy,  cold,  frightening.  For  those 
occasions  when  Peter,  or  alter-ego  Roc- 
co, take  us  into  the  bars,  the  camera  is 


ever  ready  to  slip  into  slow  motion  and 
the  sound  track  into  weird  electronic 
noise  just  so  no  one  will  miss  the  point 
that  it's  time  to  be  grossed  out. 

The  Kastners'  camera  does  not  just 
passively  record  and  reflect;  it  selects, 
frames  and  shapes.  They  are  formula 
filmmakers  specializing  in  "sensitive" 
issues,  complete  with  close-up  invasions 
of  private  pain.  When  they  don't  find 
exactly  what  they  want  or  expect 
they're  not  above  using  a  little  creativity 
to  achieve  the  desired  effect. 

There's  a  fine  line  between  a  histor- 
ical record  of  anguish  and  a  sensational 
exploitation  of  it.  The  Kastners'  docu- 
mentaries derive  their  appeal  from 
treading  that  line.  And  crossing  it  fairly 
often.  They  cross  it  every  time  they  cen- 
sor a  little  bit  of  reality  that  is  inconsis- 
tent with  their  long-sought  saga  of 
misery.  When  they  wrench  individuals 
out  of  their  context  and  isolate  them  on 
the  tube  —  when  they  extract  the  gay 
person  from  the  gay  community,  for 
instance.  When  they  take  someone's 
story,  like  Pierre's,  to  the  point  of  com- 
ing out  —  but  not  beyond  to  the  joy  of 
self-knowledge  at  last,  to  the  strength  of 
struggling  and  surviving,  to  the  affirma- 
tion of  community:  of  our  friends  and 
lovers,  ourselves  and  each  other. 

There  is  something  inherently  dan- 
gerous in  these  apparently  safe  and  lib- 
eral dramas  or  docudramas  masquer- 
ading as  documentary  fact.  Certainly 
they  present  people  with  the  oppor- 
tunity to  experience  something  painful 
or  problematic  or  controversial.  But 
always  from  a  distance.  From  over  there 
in  the  corner  of  the  room,  in  that  safe 
little  box,  nicely  and  neatly  packaged 
for  them  so  they  don't  have  to  do  any 
of  their  own  thinking. 

The  day  after  I'd  finished  the 
second  draft  of  this  article,  John 
Kastner  called  me  to  ask  if  I'd 
filed  the  story  yet.  I  hadn't  quite. 
He  said  he  had  one  or  two 
thoughts  he  wanted  to  add. 

"I'll  have  to  say  this  carefully  because 
I  am,  in  a  certain  sense,  representing  the 
CBC,"  he  began.  He  went  on  to  re- 
assure me  that  he  and  his  mother  had 
the  best  interests  of  gay  people  at  heart, 
but  then  said  that  "when  you  spend  as 
much  time  in  the  gay  community  as  we 
did,  all  kinds  of  things  come  your  way. 
The  temptation  was  really  there.  We 
could  have  done  some  really  shitty 
things." 

He  was  proud  of  having  resisted  that 
temptation.  This  from  a  man  who  had 
told  a  reporter  from  the  Globe  and 
Mail's  Broadcast  Week  magazine,  "The 
gay  community  is  such  an  armored  one. 
You  come  in  saying  you're  going  to  do  a 
film  on  homosexuality  and  understand- 
ably people  are  afraid  you're  going  to 
do  another  Cruising." 

John  Kastner  did,  however,  say  one 
thing  that  was  reassuring.  He  and  Rose 
hadn't  anticipated  the  negative  reaction 
they  got  from  so  many  gay  people  — 
not,  he  hastened  to  explain,  that  it  was  a 
majority  reaction,  but  that  it  had  been 
so  intense. 

"You  know  that  film  on  lesbians  that 
we're  working  on?  Well,  there's  no 
question.  If  we  get  the  same  kind  of 
enormous  hassling,  we'll  drop  it  right 
away." 

I  suspect  he  thought  he  was  threat- 
ening me.D 


24/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


There  was  something  different 
about  the  celebration  going  on  at 
Toronto's  gaudy  Casa  Loma  that 
night.  It  sounded  like  the  other 
events  usually  seen  at  the  castle  — 
the  wedding  receptions,  the  high  school 
graduation  formals  —  but  it  took  only  a 
mildly  keen  eye  to  see  that  the  two 
women  silhouetted  against  the  floodlit 
window  were  kissing,  or  that  the  two 
men  standing  by  the  grand  piano  were 
holding  hands. 

Portraits  of  Sir  Henry  Pellatt,  the 
hydro-power  baron  who  had  built  Casa 
Loma  in  191 1,  hung  in  at  least  three 
spots  throughout  the  ballroom.  One 
couldn't  help  wondering  what  old 
Henry  would  say  about  a  night  like  this. 
He'd  probably  label  the  goings  on 
'Shenanigans"  and  curse  the  day  he 
walked  out  of  his  beloved  castle,  leaving 
it  to  the  city  in  lieu  of  back  taxes 
because  he  couldn't  afford  the  upkeep 
anymore.  Poor  Henry.  Trapped  in  all 
those  paintings  as  hundreds  of  gay  men 
and  lesbians  danced  beneath  his  nose. 

More  than  500  of  them,  at  $10  a 
head,  swept  through  the  castle's  massive 
doors  on  the  night  of  January  23.  They 
came  to  dance  to  the  rock  'n'  roll  of 
Mama  Quilla  II,  to  nibble  hors 
d'oeuvres  served  to  them  on  trays  held 
by  gray-haired  women  in  black  dresses 
and  white  aprons.  They  came  to  drink 
the  booze  poured  for  them  by  red- 
jacketed  bartenders  in  bow  ties.  But 
most  of  all  they  came  to  applaud  as  the 
Gay  Community  Appeal  handed  over 
$1 1 ,500  to  the  representatives  of  15  gay 
groups  and  services.  If  portraits  could 
grimace,  Henry's  probably  would  have, 
as  one  by  one  the  representatives  of 
groups  like  Gay  Fathers  and  the  Lesbian 
Organization  of  Toronto  wended  their 
way  to  the  microphones  at  the  front  of 
the  audience  to  take  their  cheques  and 
make  their  thank  you  speeches. 

Gay  Appeal.  It  sounds  like  something 
you  get  from  using  toothpaste.  In  fact, 
it's  the  name  of  an  organization  that  in 


• 


Toronto's  Casa  Loma  has  seen  many  a  grand 

affair,  but  there  was  a  definite  difference  to  this  one. 

Fay  Orr  reports  on  the  Gay  Community  Appeal's  awards  night. 


An  evening  with  Gay  Appeal 


its  first  year  managed  to  raise  $19,000 
for  the  gay  community  in  Toronto. 
The  Appeal  was  the  brainchild  of 
Harvey  Hamburg,  who  had  previously 
been  instrumental  in  setting  up  the 
Toronto  Area  Gays  (TAG)  counselling 
group  and  the  923-GAYS  information 
phone  line.  In  January  1980,  he  got 
together  with  an  optimistic  group  of 
other  gay  men  and  women  and  began 
sending  letters  and  brochures  out  to 
people  asking  them  if  perhaps  there  was 
something  in  the  community  they  felt 
needed  doing.  Because  if  there  was,  the 
brochures  continued,  the  Appeal 
wanted  to  hear  about  and  help  to 
support  it. 

The  Appeal's  Rosemary  Barnes  and  David 
Marriage  handed  over  the  cheques;  the  music 
of  Mama  Quilla  II  kept  the  crowd  rocking. 


It  took  a  while  for  people  to  take  the 
Appeal  seriously.  Lynn  Fernie,  from  the 
feminist  journal  Fireweed,  had  to  be 
prompted  to  send  in  an  application  ask- 
ing for  $1,575  to  help  cover  the  costs  of 
a  special  lesbian  issue.  She  was  amazed 
to  discover  in  December  that  the  Appeal 
would  be  able  to  grant  her  the  entire 
amount.  "I'd  been  thinking  of  phoning 
the  Appeal  up  and  asking  them  if  they 
could  spare  $100  or  so,"  she  laughs,  sit- 
ting in  her  Queen  St  apartment  with 
copies  of  Fireweed  spread  out  on  her 
coffee  table.  "Then  Valerie  Edwards 
from  the  Appeal  told  me  the  news.  I 
went  bananas." 

The  Appeal  was  serious,  and  inter- 
ested in  a  wide  range  of  gay  services. 
Health  clinics,  like  Hassle  Free;  coun- 
selling services,  like  Gay  Youth's 
recorded  phone  message;  legal  services, 
like  the  Osgoode  Law  School's  Gay 
Caucus;  and  cultural  projects  like  Fire- 
weed's  lesbian  issue,  now  scheduled  for 
publication  in  1982. 

The  people  of  the  Gay  Community 
Appeal  raised  the  money  not  simply  by 
asking  for  it,  as  so  many  groups  had 
done  before,  but  also  by  putting  to- 
gether a  sophisticated  promotion  pack- 
age to  convince  people  of  the  need. 
They  spent  $1,700  on  audio-visual 
equipment  to  mount  a  slide-and-music 
presentation  describing  ten  of  the 
projects  they  hoped  to  fund. 

The  presentation,  called  Our  Com- 
munity was  put  together  by  a  group 
under  the  direction  of  TV  writer  and 
filmmaker  Carolyn  Walters.  Her  partner 
Lynnie  Johnston  did  most  of  the 
photographic  work,  which  was  carefully 
coupled  with  a  soundtrack  prepared  by 
Michael  Roberts.  Our  Community  was 
shown  in  gay  people's  homes  around 
the  city  as  the  focal  point  for  what  the 
Appeal  called  SOS  —  Support  Our 


Selves  —  evenings.  After  a  couple  of 
hours  of  general  hobnobbing  among  the 
hosts  and  their  guests,  someone  from 
the  Appeal  would  answer  questions  and 
introduce  the  sound-and-light  show. 
Following  the  presentation  people  wrote 
out  cheques,  directing  as  much  as  50% 
of  their  contribution  towards  a  specific 
project  if  they  wished.  The  Appeal 
raised  most  of  its  money  through  such 
social  gatherings. 

"The  presentation  did  a  lot  to  foster 
a  sense  of  community,"  says  Rosemary 
Barnes,  president  of  the  Appeal's  board 
of  directors.  Barnes,  who  helped  present 
the  money  at  Casa  Loma,  thinks  the 
Appeal's  ability  to  generate  a  sense  of 
community  among  gay  people  may  be 
even  more  important  than  its  ability  to 
raise  money  for  projects.  There  are 
others  who  agree.  As  Robert  Trow  from 
Hassle  Free  Clinic  put  it,  "The  Gay 
Community  Appeal  has  probably  done 
more  than  anything  before  in  the  com- 
munity to  cross  political  and  sexual 
barriers." 

The  Appeal  begins  its  next  fund- 
raising  drive  in  September.  It  has 
$3,100,  including  $1,500  made  at  Casa 
Loma,  to  kick  off  the  campaign.  Last 
year  the  Appeal  needed  $4,300  to  get 
going.  Now  that  the  Appeal  has  proven 
its  credibility,  organizers  expect  that 
even  more  groups  will  apply  for 
funding. 

"Oh,  we'll  expand,"  says  Hamburg, 
who  has  a  new  money-raising  idea  in  the 
works.  The  plan,  called  the  Estates  Pro- 
posal, would  encourage  gay  people  to 
leave  money  to  the  Appeal  in  their  wills. 

Hamburg  smiles  when  asked  about 
the  gay  bash  at  Casa  Loma.  "It  was  a 
grand  event,"  he  says.  "We  could  have 
sent  people  their  cheques  through  the 
mail,  you  know,  but  we  wanted  to  do  it 
in  style. "□ 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/25 


BEYOND  THE  VANDERBELT 


y/i&m'd 


*T% 


Never  fart  in  the  presence  of  anyone  wearing  leather  unless  requested 
to  do  so  first. 


Learn  to  accept  drinks  from  older  men  graciously  (unless  it  is  a  diet 
cola,  in  which  case  it  is  permitted  to  kill  them). 


tllllVU"''' 

'■lliimli''; 

"miii  utnf>- 

""nil  nillli' 
llllllll  ii'lin| 


Never  ridicule  the  help. 


As  with  some  styles  of  shirt  collar,  the  sing-along  is  dead,  and  your 
feeble  attempt  will  not  revive  either. 


It  is,  unfortunately,  still  considered  quite  declasse  to  make  a  fuss  over 
the  presence  of  the  vice  squad.  If  you  suspect  someone  is  a  plain- 
clothes detective,  try  seeing  if  his  image  is  reflected  in  the  bar  mirror. 


26/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


Upfront 

Seems  you  can 't  go  anywhere 
in  Toronto  without  running  into  this 
fresh  young  upstart,  heady  with  success. 
David  Roche  gives  us  the  inside  dirt. 

On  the  party 

circuit  with  Sky  Gilbert 


Summer,  1980.  I'm  houseminding 
a  friend's  loft  in  downtown 
Toronto,  and  throw  a  small  party 
the  last  weekend  I  have  the  run 
of  the  place.  One  of  my  guests 
brings  Sky  Gilbert,  who's  billed  as  "a 
young  playwright  eager  to  crash 
parties."  Never  heard  of  him.  Wait  a 
minute  —  summer  of  '75  at  the  Play- 
wright's Co-op.  I  was  on  the  order 
desk,  and  every  week  or  so  this  Sky 
would  be  down  with  some  new  writing 
to  show  the  resident  dramaturge.  But  I 
can't  conjure  up  his  face.  It  was  just  an 
exotic  name  flying  around  the  office 
five  years  ago. 

In  he  comes,  tall,  shy,  with  dark  curly 
hair  and  a  purple  T-shirt  assiduously 
rolled  up  at  the  sleeves,  a  glow  of  sweat 
shining  on  his  brow  and  a  tiny  gold  star 
in  one  ear  lobe.  A  visual  asset  to  my 
party.  I  offer  a  beer  from  the  tub  of  my 
washer /spin-dryer  and  go  on  introdu- 
cing one  knot  of  people  to  another.  I 
next  see  Sky  when  he's  on  his  way  out. 
I'm  lounging  on  a  tabletop,  acting  the 
voluptuary  in  the  August  heat  for  the 
benefit  of  the  stragglers.  He  thanks  me 
for  the  party  and  slips  out,  looking 
mildly  uncomfortable. 
• 
The  voice  is  loud  and  uncompromi- 
sing. "Let's  face  it,  everything  Can- 
adian is  inferior  to  everything  Amer- 
ican." It's  October  now,  and  the  cast 
and  director  of  Lana  Turner  Has  Col- 
lapsed! are  unwinding  at  a  late-night 
eatery  on  Yonge  Street.  Sky-for- 
Schuyler,  born  in  Norwich,  Connecticut 
and  a  Canadian  resident  since  1964,  is 
starting  to  roll. 

"In  American  restaurants  they  bring 
you  water  right  away.  They  also  bring 
crushed  ice  in  the  Coca-Cola.  Ameri- 
cans know  how  to  do  things.  You  meet 
someone  with  a  sense  of  humour  here, 
he's  an  American."  A  poet  named 
Sheila  tells  Sky  he's  a  pig,  but  she's 
indulgent.  It's  Sky's  night:  his  play  is  a 
hit. 

It's  Saturday  night  and  there's  been  a 
huge  turnout  for  the  show.  Everyone's  a 
little  heady  with  success.  The  theory  is 
offered  that  gays  are  so  desperate  for  a 
show  about  themselves  that  they'll  flock 
to  anything,  even  a  play  the  Globe  and 
Mail  calls  a  failure. 

A  failure  it  is  not.  Lana  Turner  Has 
Collapsed!  had  taken  me  by  surprise,  to 
say  the  least.  Fresh,  tunny,  astute  on 
the  subject  of  gay  relations,  it's  that 
rare  thing  in  the  theatre  nowadays  —  a 
satisfying,  even  uplifting  experience. 
And  here  is  its  director,  giving  the  lie  to 
my  image  of  him  till  now,  all  shyness 
gone,  already  plotting  more  publicity 
schemes  and  planning  at  the  same  lime  a 
cast  party  for  the  closing  they  hope  to 


forestall  for  another  week  or  two. 

He's  buttonholed  a  photographer 
who  shall  capture  the  definitive  Sky 
Gilbert  at  home,  en  deshabille:  "Here's 
how  I  see  the  shot:  me  in  the  loft  bed, 
dressed  as  Nero,  while  a  hundred  bare- 
bottomed  boys  below  shine  flashlights 
on  me."  The  photographer  gulps.  Sky  is 
clenching  his  fists  like  an  impatient 
child,  eyes  screwed  up  tight  in  anticipa- 
tion of  the  party.  "I  hope  there's  an 
orgy.  'Cause!  I  want  it  to  happen]" 

Letting  off  steam. 
• 

Bui  that's  all  over  for  the  moment. 
It's  calls  Novembei .  and  /  ana  has 

played  a  respectable  twent)  five  perfor- 
mance! and  been  held  over  a  week,  to 
everyone's  glee      especially  the  several 
Lena  groupies  who  keep  turning  up  in 

the  audience.  "The  cast  is  quite  dishv," 


I  heard  one  say.  True  enough.  Now 
Buddies  In  Bad  Times,  Sky's  company, 
is  in  the  brief  lull  before  the  fourth 
festival  of  new  experimental  works 
which  they  produce  in  association  with 
Nightwood  Theatre,  the  feminist  group. 
I've  got  Sky  to  sit  down  over  a  pasta 
supper  and  answer  a  few  questions  on 
what  his  theatre  is  all  about. 

"Well,"  I  ask,  "was  Lana  a  hit  or 
wasn't  it?" 

"Not  exactly.  It  was  well  received  by 
the  audiences  that  came  to  sec  it,  but  on 
such  a  low  budget  it  was  hard  tC 
enough  people  there  to  make  ii  a  hit." 
One  thing  thai  helped:  an  ad  in  I  he 
Body  Politic  while  the  stuns  was  si  ill 
running.  One  thing  thai  didn't:  I  tie 

Tbronto  stnr\  refusing  to  u-siess  the 
play  on  the  grounds  that  the  Stai  is  "a 

family  newspaper." 


Sky  started  doing  theatre  in  Toronto 
ten  years  ago  in  high  school.  At  York 
University  he  started  an  improvisational 
comedy  team.  Later  his  show  City 
Nights,  about  couples  in  Toronto  at 
night,  was  done  at  the  Church  Street 
Community  Centre.  One  of  the  couples 
was  gay.  Even  though,  Sky  says,  he  was 
straight  at  the  time,  everyone  thought 
this  was  the  best  thing  in  the  play. 

"It  sort  of  came  as  a  surprise  to  me.  I 
wrote  about  this  couple  —  it  was  only  in 
my  imagination  but  it  seems  it  was 
pretty  accurate." 

"You'd  never  had  an  affair  at  this 
point,  Sky?" 

"Never  had  any  gay  relationships  at 
all.  My  next  show?  That  was  Buddies  in 
Bad  Times  —  which  is  what  my  com- 
pany is  called  now  —  based  on  Jacques 
Prevert's  poetry.  Then  Angels  in 
Underwear,  which  used  the  poetry  of 
the  Beats.  It  contained  some  poems  on 
gay  themes,  some  Allen  Ginsberg,  some 
Frank  O'Hara." 

In  Paris  Spleen  Sky  tried  to  write 
realistic  scenes  using  Baudelaire's  poetry 
and  found  that  realism  was  not  his 
forte.  "After  that,  I  decided  I  wasn't 
going  to  touch  anything  with  a  living 
room  in  it.  All  scenes  were  going  to  be 
in  the  middle  of  nowhere.  With  people 
doing  crazy  scenes.  'Cause  that's  the 
kind  of  thing  I  can  handle.  Doing  crazy 
things  on  stage."  (The  arms  of  her  fans 
stretch  toward  the  Star,  sitting  regally 
aloof  on  her  turquoise  cloud:  "Lana! 
Lana!  Oh!  Oh!") 

Lana  Turner  Has  Collapsed!  used  the 
poems  of  Frank  O'Hara,  and  O'Hara 
himself  as  a  character.  What  was  Frank 
O'Hara's  and  what  was  Sky  Gilbert's  in 
the  script?  It's  hard  to  tell.  Sky 
|  explains. 

"His  poetry  is  very  conversational. 
It's  just  talk.  Some  of  it  is  very 
heightened,  very  surreal,  but  other 
poems  are  just  like  someone  saving, 
'Hi!' 

"Basically,  for  me,  it  was  an  experi- 
ment in  how  many  different  ways  the 
poems  could  be  done.  My  goal  was  to 
meld  the  two,  Frank  O'Hara's  and 
mine.  I  hoped  to  capture  (he  sensibility, 
let  some  of  the  brilliance  rub  off       his 
sort  of  melancholy  sense  o\  humour." 

Sky  readily  adopted  suggestions  from 
his  cast  sshile  preparing  the  script.  "It 
ssas  a  collective  creation,  l  he  script  ssa>< 
definitely  a  blueprint.  Smce  I  had  one 

actor  ssho  ssas  introspective  and  quiet  m 
Ins  approach,  we  turned  some  of  the 
poems  he  did  into  simple  chats  with  ihe 

audience.  1  had  another  actor  ssho  ssas 

quite  a  dancer,  and  his  approach  ssas  to 
cut  out  the  ssords  altogether  and  just 
dance  the  poems." 

"\\  hal  ssas  it  like  to  cast  a  stuns  that 


MARCH  1981 


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28fTHE  BODY  POLITIC 


has  parts  for  gay  men?"  I  ask. 

"It  was  made  very  clear  to  everyone 
before  we  started  out  that  the  show  had 
a  gay  slant:  it  was  about  Frank 
O'Hara's  writing,  he  was  gay,  and 
therefore  it  would  be  about  relation- 
ships between  gay  men.  Not  saying, 
'Are  you  gay,  do  you  want  to  be  in  this 
play,'  but:  'The  play  has  this  slant  and 
we  hope  that  you'll  be  interested.  But 
you  don't  have  to  be  gay  to  relate  to 
it.*" 

And  some  members  of  the  cast  were 
not  gay,  as  it  turned  out.  "The  title  role 
of  Lana  Turner:  how  did  you  come  to 
cast  her?" 

"Deborah  Jarvis  was  by  far  the 
Tightest  woman  for  the  role,"  says  Sky. 
"I  auditioned  several  women,  but  none 
of  them  had  that  marvellous  sexual 
irony  that  Deb  used  with  the  Lana  char- 
acter. She  parodied  sex.  She  was  attrac- 
tive enough  to  make  fun  of  it  and  still 
be  sexy.  She  also  had  to  play  various 
women  friends  in  Frank  O'Hara's  life,  a 
whole  other  side  of  the  poems.  Not  a 
parody  of  a  woman,  but  hopefully  just 
a  woman  —  someone  who's  friends 
with  a  gay  man.  An  intelligent  woman, 
a  creative  woman." 

"Did  you  write  her  monologue  about 
relating  to  gay  men?  I  saw  women 
nudge  each  other  in  the  audience  while 
this  scene  played." 

"I  had  a  couple  of  women  come  up 
to  me  and  say,  'I  lived  with  a  gay  man 
and  you  are  right  on!  How  did  you 
know?'  That  was  very  gratifying." 

I  recall  that  Lana  says  something 
quite  charming  about  how  important 
the  relationship  a  woman  has  with  a  gay 
male  friend  is.  "She  says,  'It  means 
something.  Don't  ask  me  what!'  She's 
about  to  say  something  very  positive 
here." 

"To  me  one  of  the  things  that  speech 
was  about..."  He  hesitates.  "Well.  How 
can  you  describe  that  ineffable  and 
strange  and  wonderful  thing  that,  as  I 
have  recently  discovered,  exists  between 
a  man  and  a  woman  when  they  are  not 
being  sexual  together?  I  was  straight  for 
a  long  time  and  it's  been  this  wonderful 
discovery  of  how  close  you  can  be  with 
a  woman  and  not  have  sex  with  her. 
Human  relationships  are  marvellous 
and  varied  things,  there  are  so  many 
ways  they  can  go.  It's  quite  wonderful 
to  see  what  can  happen." 

"You  got  a  terrific  freshness  because 
the  people  contributing  to  the  show 
have  a  stake  in  the  subject.  It  seemed  to 
be  coming  out  of  their  own  lives." 

"The  gay  actors  were  eager  to  play  in 
something  that  was  close  to  them.  In 
fact,  the  actors  I  auditioned  expressed 
that  eagerness.  They  said,  'I'd  like  to  be 
in  a  play  that  is  about  gay  men  and  their 
relationships.  That's  what  I'm  involved 
in  and  that's  what's  closest  to  me,  and 
for  a  change  that  would  be  very  in- 
teresting.' One  of  the  comments  I  re- 
ceived about  the  show  was  someone  tell- 
ing me,  'I  really  felt  that  this  show  was 
one  of  the  few  places  other  than  a  gay 
bar  where  I  felt  I  could  put  my  arm 
around  my  lover.'  That  made  me  think, 
how  wonderful  that  I  have  had  some- 
thing to  do  with  creating  an  atmosphere 
where  people  feel  they  can  be 
themselves." 

So  often  an  actor  will  be  cast  in  a  gay 
role  and  then  dissociate  himself  from 
the  part.  It  doesn't  do,  after  all,  for  an 
actor  who  wants  to  get  hired  to  be  iden- 
tified too  closely  with  gay  parts.  But  I 
think  audiences  feel  this.  We  feel 
something  inauthentic.  Lana  was  just 
the  opposite  of  that.  The  contact  be- 
tween the  men  wasn't  fake  or  over- 
blown or  forced. 

"We  didn't  make  a  big  deal  about  the 
physicalness  between  the  men,"  Sky 


says,  "we  just  did  it.  It  didn't  seem  un- 
natural or  uncomfortable  to  us." 

"What's  it  like  trying  to  get  money 
for  enterprises  with  explicit  gay 
content?" 

"I  haven't  had  that  much  experience. 
Theatre  Passe  Muraille  was  very  inter- 
ested in  the  play  because  it  was  a  gay 
production.  They're  interested  in  sup- 
porting theatre  that  appeals  to  certain 
communities  in  Toronto.  And  money 
has  come  from  the  Ontario  Arts  Coun- 
cil. Their  main  concern  —  they  asked 
me  right  out  —  was  whether  there  is  a 
community  that  is  waiting  for  gay 
theatre.  Is  there  a  gay  theatre  audience 
out  there?  I  think  there  defintely  is,  and 
Lana  proved  it.  It  sold  out  two 
weekends  in  a  row,  and  we  held  over.  I 
feel  it's  going  to  happen  more  strongly. 
It's  not  that  gays  aren't  there,  but  that 
gays  aren't  used  to  going  to  gay  things 
culturally." 

"What  does  it  mean  to  be  a  gay 
artist,  to  you?" 

"I  think  the  most  important  thing 
about  that,  and  the  thing  I've  had  the 
most  difficulty  expressing  even  to  gay 
people  is  that,  to  me,  it's  being  an  artist 
who  is  gay.  My  purpose  as  an  artist  is 
not  to  make  points  about  gay  life  or 
make  political  points.  My  purpose  is  to 
create  art  that  comes^out  of  my  life,  to 
express  and  communicate  something  of 
what's  happening  to  me.  What's  hap- 
pening to  me  has  a  lot  to  do  with  my 
relationships  with  gay  men.  Isherwood 
said,  one  of  the  reasons  we  were  all  gay 
in  Berlin  was  because  we  didn't  want  to 
fit  into  what  society  had  set  out  for  us, 
and  we  rebelled.  I  don't  fit  in,  and  I 
don't  want  to  fit  in,  and  being  gay 
means  I  don't  have  to.  I  can  find  my 
own  way  and  chart  my  own  course." 

November  30,  1980.  The  Rhubarb! 
festival  of  new  works  has  just 
closed,  and  another  cast  party  is 
in  full  swing.  More  hectic 
dancing  to  Rough  Trade  and 
Drastic  Measures.  Store-bought  hors 
d'oeuvres  are  shoved  in  the  oven  for 
reheating.  At  his  varathaned  kitchen  bar 
laminated  with  sheet  music,  Sky  Gilbert 
is  pontificating  once  more,  joshing  his 
feminist  colleagues  from  Nightwood 
Theatre  and  getting  as  good  as  he  gives. 

"Men  look  for  perfection  in  men," 
he  announces.  "Women  like  flawed 
men." 

Sheila  agrees.  Sky  turns  on  her  with 
counterfeit  disdain.  "A  typical  female 
reaction!"  Laughter,  hugging.  Now 
they're  playing  man-in-the-street  inter- 
views and  a  thumb  standing  for  a  micro- 
phone is  pushed  towards  this  face  and 
that.  To  complete  the  effect,  Cynthia 
swings  the  overhead  lamp  over  a  sub- 
ject's head  while  the  roving  reporter 
poses  questions  on  art,  sexual  politics, 
sexual  gossip. 

Suddenly  from  the  edge  of  the  room 
another  "reporter"  speaks  up  and  the 
lamp  swings  over  to  Sky.  The  thumb  is 
thrust  under  his  chin.  The  man's  ques- 
tion is  friendly,  but  this  time  it's 
kidding-on-the-level: 

"Alright  Sky,  when  are  you  going  to 
give  up  this  faggot  stuff  and  get  down 
to  some  real  theatre?" 

Sky  doesn't  skip  a  beat.  His  answer  is 
swift  and  there's  no  trace  of  apology  in 
his  voice.  "The  faggot's  there;  it's  got 
to  come  out.  Maybe  it'll  change,  but  for 
now..."  He  concludes  with  a  shrug. 
Just  then  the  stove  timer  goes  off  and  a 
squeal  goes  up  around  the  room. 

The  hot  egg  rolls  and  bo-bo  balls  are 
ready  to  eat.  □ 


David  Roche  has  been  busy  this  winter  performing 
in  Dirt  is  My  Profession,  which  he  wrote  for  the 
Rhubarb!  festival  of  new  works. 


MARCH  1981 


History-bound  and  social  beings 
that  we  are,  we  are  always  con- 
structing our  identities.  (May  I 
open  you  to  Jane  Rule's  new 
novel  with  such  a  ploy?)  During 
the  18th  and  19th  centuries,  various 
Europeans  and  North  Americans  con- 
structed a  range  of  identities  that  they 
came  to  label  "homosexual."  During 
our  century,  the  "lesbian"  and  the 
"gay"  identities  have  been  formed. 
New  homosexuals,  new  lesbians  and 
new  gays  come  into  being  every  day. 
That  odd  notion  of  one-in-ten-no- 
matter-where-no-matter-when  is  a  con- 
struct that  met  the  needs  of  a  1950s 
male  homosexual  identity,  but  it  is  a  fic- 
tion with  no  more  universal  validity 
than  that  of  the  homo  male  as  limp- 
wristed,  or  that  of  the  dyke  as  man- 
shouldered. 

Likewise  for  our  arts.  Those  special 
constructs  that  we,  in  our  time  and 
place,  label  "art"  have  varying  relations 
to  the  historical  and  social  identities  we 
create.  Take  Jane  Rule.  Her  first  two 
novels  centred  on  women-loving-women 
in  tight  personal  relationships.  Her 
subsequent  two  novels  turned  to  com- 
munes of  characters  which  included  les- 
bians alongside  a  black  faggot  here,  a 
moron  there,  grandmother  types,  babies 
and  heterosexual  lovers.  Rule's  early 
constructs  of  lesbian  identity,  that  is, 
were  based  on  personal  emotion;  her 
subsequent  ones  were  based  on  micro- 
cosmic  societies  mixing  lesbian  pairs  in 
among  other  kinds.  She  has  yet  to 
engage  a  community  of  lesbians  in 
which  lesbian  identity  is  constructed  as  ' 
part  of  a  separatist  setting. 

Her  fifth  novel,  Contract  with  the 
World,  continues  to  construct  lesbian 
identity  with  reference  to  a  mixed 
group,  though  these  identities  are  more 
diverse  than  in  earlier  novels:  Roxanne 
is  a  thorough-going  lesbian-feminist; 
Alma  is  a  married  mother  having  a  sig- 
nificant lesbian  affair;  Carlotta  is  an 
independent  woman  who  sleeps,  once, 
with  Roxanne.  But  the  main  difference 
between  Contract  and  Rule's  previous 
two  novels  is  that  it  studies  the  artistic 
identities  of  women.  All  three  of  these 
main  women  characters  are  artists.  The 
interplay  of  their  sexual  identities  with 
their  artistic  identities  is  Contract's 
subject. 

If,  then,  you  seek  another  Rubyfruit 
Jungle  or  Nights  in  the  Underground, 
with  constructs  of  lesbian  identity  pre- 
dominantly involving  women's  emo- 
tional relationships  to  other  women, 
ignore  Contract.  Karla  Jay  has  already 
suggested,  in  Gay  Community  News, 
that  Rule  might  "lose"  her  lesbian  audi- 
ence with  this  book.  Jay  might  have  said 
the  same  about  Rule's  last  two;  for  Jay, 
the  "lesbian  audience"  seeks  only 
books  in  which  lesbians  predominate. 
But  if  you're  interested  in  how  women's 
sexual  identity  might  interact  with  their 
artistic  identity  —  in  ways  that  evoke 
but  surpass  Woolf's  Lily  Briscoe  or 

Contract  with  the  World  by  Jane  Rule  Academic 
Press.  1980  $16.95 


Michael  Lynch  on  the  spinster-spider's  art  in  Contract  with  the  World 

In  art.  in  bed:  Jane  Rule's  web 


Cather's  Thea  Kxonborg  —  then, 
reader,  read  it.  Today. 

The  terms  of  the  Contract:  six  charac- 
ters, three  women  and  three  men,  all 
artists,  somehow  conceive  of  themselves 
as  a  group  even  though  they  assemble 
only  twice.  Near  the  beginning  of  the 
novel  they  come  together  for  Alma's 
thirtieth  birthday  party  —  in  a  year 
when  they  all  turn  thirty  —  and  at  the 
end  they  come  together  for  Carlotta's 
show  exhibiting  the  portraits  she  has 
painted  of  them  all,  five  years  later.  All 
six  are  passing  through  the  first  half  of 
the  "terrible  decade." 

They  do  so  together  because  Joseph 
(an  "artist  in  bed,"  his  wife  says)  visits 
them  a  lot  in  the  first  chapter  and,  from 
the  second  through  to  the  last,  Carlotta 
paints  them  all,  but  mostly  because  Rule 
spins  a  narrative  web  that  binds  them 
together  in  our  minds.  As  spinster- 
spider,  Rule  is  thus  close  to  Carlotta. 
who  tells  Alma  that  "the  myth  for 
women  is  Arachne  and  Athena." 


Arachne,  the  consummate  spinner  and 
weaver,  informs  this  book  from  Alma, 
the  spider-woman /mother,  through 
Carlotta,  whose  namesake  may  be  E  B 
White's  famous  spider  Charlotte.  (See 
Mary  Daly's  Gyn/Ecology  for  more 
about  spinsters  as  spiders.) 

Rule  spins  out  so  many  connections 
that  almost  nothing  appears  without  an 
echo  elsewhere.  She  constructs  her 
characters  by  having  them  mirror  each 
other  repeatedly.  "Why  do  you  paint?" 
Alma  asks  Carlotta  at  her  easel.  "To 
say,  'See,  we  exist,'"  Carlotta  replies, 
adding,  "It  seems  a  lot  of  work  when 
any  mirror  has  the  same  message."  But 
a  mirror,  Alma  retorts  as  Rule  herself 
might  "doesn't  say  it  matters." 

"We  all  have  our  contracts  with  the 
world,"  Cailotta  says  later,  and  the 
novel  carefully  examines  the  dialectics 
of  sexuality  and  art  within  those  con- 
tracts. Straight  Mike  Irasco's  art.  Alma 
writes,  "is  like  Mike's  sort  of  se\,  an 
attack  against  foreign  material  "  When 


he  abandons  his  manifestos  and  hard- 
ware for  making  money,  one  of  his 
sculptures,  intended  to  redeem  art  from 
usefulness,  becomes  a  useful  climbing 
toy  for  the  children  to  play  on. 

With  an  energy  and  innocence  devoid 
of  theoretical  justifications,  Roxanne 
constructs  a  sound  map  of  Vancouver, 
which  she  wonderfully  calls  "Mother 
Tongue,"  while  living  with  the  novel's 
loving  mother,  Alma.  But  then  she  goes 
off  to  L  A,  where  she  contracts  both  a 
new  lover  and  a  discursive  jargon. 

Alma's  art  is  largely  mothering, 
which  she  can  do  lusciously  despite  her 
shell  of  respectability  and  man-clinging. 
But  for  a  while  she  writes  —  beautifully. 
Of  Roxanne,  she  can  say,  "I  understand 
why  the  clitoris  is  called  a  pearl,  hidden 
in  oystery  frills.  I  am  inside  her  one  of 
the  instruments  of  her  song;  also,  she  is 
the  instrument  I  play,  music  a  faint  im- 
itation or  memory  of  the  staccato 
tonguing,  accurate  fingering,  long  bow- 
ing that  makes  her  body  into  song." 

Carlotta's  art  undergoes  the  most 
dramatic  transformations.  At  first,  she 
is  the  solipsistic  painter  of  her  own 
bones.  Then,  she  paints  her  friends  out 
of  envy  of  them  —  art  gives  her  the  illu- 
sion of  possessing  what  she  lacks  in  her- 
self and  admires  in  them.  But  in  her 
thirty-sixth  year,  just  before  rednecks 
douse  these  portraits  with  red  paint,  she 
anticipates  another  change:  "She  would 
invent  the  images  she  had  so  far  only 
been  able  to  take  from  life." 

Contract  plays  these  constructs  off 
against  each  other  in  a  webbing  and 
mirroring  that  says,  indeed,  "it 
matters."  But  the  webbing  is  so 
thorough,  the  patterning  so  blithe,  that 
no  loneliness,  terror,  darkness,  or  bad 
dreams  are  allowed  to  introduce  jagged- 
ness  and  mystery  into  these  lives.  Knit- 
ting while  Carlotta  paints  her,  Joseph's 
wife  Ann  inadvertently  offers  a  defini- 
tion of  art:  a  lot  of  energy  and  agitation 
under  control.  Rule  brings  them  under 
so  much  control  that  they  may  not  ade- 
quately confront  the  unruliness  that  we 
may  experience,  in  our  space  and  time, 
constructing  ourselves. 

Allen  Dent,  the  sixth  of  these  artists, 
comes  closest  to  ripping  apart  the  close- 
ruled  web.  When  he  is  arrested  at  a 
Toronto  party  and  brought  out  in  the 
newspapers,  and  soon  thereafter  learns 
of  his  boy-wife's  suicide,  his  response  is 
a  vengeful  coming  out,  burning  with  the 
energy  that  only  anger  can  give.  Karla 
Jay  has  jeered  that,  because  of  Dent, 
Rule  will  become  a  pin-up  of  the  North 
American  Man /Boy  Love  Association. 
But  this  is  to  misread  Contract  as  much 
as  Jay  does  when  she  says  that  Pierre 
kills  himself  upon  hearing  of  Allen's  ar- 
rest   Rule  gives  us  an  intractable  por- 
i rait  of  a  man  whose  slick  craft  is  trans 
formed  into  art  through  anger,  hardly  a 
soothing  model  for  anvonc    But  the 

destructive construd  that  is  "Allen 

Dent"  illuminates,  unforgettably,  the 

interplay  Of  sexual  and  artistic  identities 
—  our  contracts,  the  liveliest  ones,  with 
the  world.D 


MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/29 


Sailors  and  villas 
martinis  and  boys 

Maugham  by  Ted  Morgan.  Simon  and 
Schuster  (Musson  in  Canada),  1980. 
$23.95 

Sir  Wilfrid  Laurier  thought  that  the 
future  belonged  to  Canada.  Somerset 
Maugham  thought  it  belonged  to  homo- 
sexual literature.  The  outcome  has  yet 
to  be  decided.  Maugham  had  little  good 
to  say  about  Canada,  however.  "I  have 
just  come  back  from  savage  parts  and  I 
wish  to  say  that  I  much  prefer  civilisa- 
tion," he  wrote  to  Aubrey  Beardsley's 
sister  after  a  stay  on  a  prairie  farm  in 
1912.  And  Ted  Morgan's  biography 
leaves  little  doubt  that  Maugham  did 
nothing  to  advance  gay  liberation  either 
—  literary  or  otherwise.  When,  near  the 
end  of  his  life  and  at  the  peak  of  his 
fame,  he  was  approached  by  his  friend 
Arthur  Jeffress  to  support  the  Wolfen- 
den  reforms  in  England,  he  broke  with 
him  and  never  spoke  to  him  again.  No- 
where in  the  vast  corpus  of  Maugham's 
nineteen  novels,  six  collections  of  short 
stories  and  thirty  plays  is  there  an  open- 
ly gay  character. 

Maugham  was,  in  fact,  never  "gay": 
he  was  homosexual.  His  closeted  self-re- 
pression was  precisely  what  fired  his 
muse.  Stephen  Carey,  the  hero  of  his 
most  famous  novel,  Of  Human  Bond- 
age, is  in  large  measure  an  autobio- 
graphical portrait,  but  even  Maugham's 
much-celebrated  insight  into  his  female 
characters  owes  a  great  deal  to  his  sense 
of  exile  from  the  land  of  hetero.  And 
yet  Maugham  could  not  forgive  homo- 
sexuality in  others.  It  was  the  ground 
for  his  considering  El  Greco  defective, 
but  in  his  essay  on  the  painter  he  might 
have  been  describing  himself  in  his  por- 
trait of  the  classic  homosexual:  "He  is 
vain,  loquacious,  witty  and  theatrical. 
With  his  keen  insight  and  quick  sensibil- 
ity he  can  pierce  the  depths,  but  in  his 
innate  frivolity  he  fetches  up  from  them 
not  a  precious  jewel  but  a  tinsel 
ornament." 

For  all  his  famed  social  insight  (and 
Zola  is  never  mentioned  in  this  bio- 
graphy), Maugham  suffered  from  the 
flippant  facility  of  Wilde,  the  taste  for 
easy  paradox  that  works  well  in  a  short 
story  but  will  not  sustain  a  novel.  Rob- 
bie Ross,  the  Canadian  expatriate  who 
was  Wilde's  first  boy,  was  also  a  friend 
of  Maugham's.  And  it  was  among  Eng- 
lish expatriates,  refugees  from  the  bour- 
geois England  that  censored  Hardy  and 
George  Moore,  that  Maugham  found 
himself  in  Capri  after  the  success  of  his 
first  novel.  What  a  strange  glass-case 
quality  that  world  has  now  —  full  of 
sailors  and  villas  and  flannels  and  marti- 
nis and  boys! 

Maugham's  life  was,  in  fact,  a  mess. 
Hag-ridden  by  early  poverty,  his  quest 
for  money  poisoned  those  to  whom  he 
was  closest.  His  treatment  of  his  wife, 
Syrie,  is  a  classic  of  cruel  misogyny.  His 
attempt  to  disown  his  daughter  and  to 
adopt  his  lover,  Alan  Searle,  as  his  son 
has  all  the  qualities  of  vicious  farce. 

Nowhere  does  Ted  Morgan  explain 
what  it  was  that  characters  as  diverse  as 
Winston  Churchill  and  Alec  Waugh 
found  attractive  in  Maugham.  In  fact  it 
is  the  chief,  but  far  from  the  only,  fail- 
ing of  this  biography  that  we  come  away 
from  it  as  mystified  about  what  made 
Maugham  tick  as  when  we  began.  Not 
that  Ted  Morgan  does  not  give  us  a  dose 
of  primitive  psychologizing  —  often  hil- 
arious: "Bertha's  finger  fetishism  be- 
gins to  seem  like  an  unconscious  homo- 
sexual fantasy  of  the  author's" 


Maugham:  exile  from  heteroland 


Bits  of  spurious  information  are  scat- 
tered throughout  this  book  like  academ- 
ic dandruff.  Even  the  stories  that  Mor- 
gan tells  have  the  false  air  of  being  "set- 
ups," and  they're  not  helped  by  Mor- 
gan's taste  for  slick  paradox,  clever 
phrases,  and  potted  philosophy. 

In  the  end  this  biography  leads  us  to 
the  same  conclusion  as  Maugham's 
friend  Lord  Boothby:  "Nothing  in  life 
looks  so  dead  as  the  dead."  And  that  is 
probably  less  than  he  deserved. 

Douglas  ChambersD 

Being  gay  day-by-day 

A  Gay  Diary:  Volume  Two,  1946-1954  by 

Donald  Vining.  The  Pepys  Press,  1980. 
(1270  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York,  New  York 
10029)  $9.95  US. 

When  we  last  encountered  Donald 
Vining,  at  the  end  of  Volume  One  of  A 
Gay  Diary,  he  was  29  years  old,  living  in 
a  men's  residence  club  near  Central 
Park  in  New  York  City  and  working  at  a 
YMCA.  World  War  II  had  recently  end- 
ed, Vining  had  come  out  (ie,  in  the 
original  sense  of  the  word:  he  had 
acknowledged  to  himself  that  he  was 
gay)  and  he  had  just  embarked  upon  a 
love  affair  with  Ken,  another  resident  of 
the  club.  The  first  volume  guided  us 
through  the  most  important  event  in  a 
gay  man's  life,  coming  out,  and  through 
an  era,  World  War  II,  that  decisively 
shaped  the  subculture  and  identity  of 
the  pre-Stonewall  generation  of  male 
homosexuals. 

Now  Vining  has  given  us  a  second 
volume.  The  themes  are  quite  different, 
the  focus  much  sharper.  The  action  cen- 
tres in  New  York  and  the  "plot" 
revolves  around  the  effort  to  make  his 
relationship  with  Ken  work.  Relation- 
ships, in  fact,  are  the  abiding  concern  of 
most  of  the  gay  men  who  fill  these 
pages.  For  some  this  means  years  of 
coupledom  with  the  same  mate;  for 
others,  a  series  of  lovers  and  affairs  of 
longer  or  shorter  duration. 


It's  dangerous  to  generalize  from  the 
record  of  one  life.  Vining  was  a  college- 
educated  white  male  living  in  a  metro- 
polis and  he  was  not  even  necessarily 
representative  of  that  group,  as  his  diary 
makes  clear.  Yet  in  some  respects  his  ex- 
perience illuminates  more  than  the  life 
of  one  gay  man  and  his  friends.  After 
ten  years  of  economic  depression  and 
four  years  of  total  mobilization,  his 
preoccupation  with  private,  personal 
concerns  —  building  a  stable  relation- 
ship, finding  work,  locating  an  apart- 
ment during  a  housing  shortage  —  was 
no  doubt  widely  shared  and  helps  ex- 
plain the  conservatism  of  the  era. 
People  were  tired  and  were  looking  in- 
ward; the  popular  mood  made  it  easier 
for  Cold  War  politics  and  McCarthyism 
to  take  hold.  The  discussion  of  things 
gay  was  growing  considerably  during 
these  years,  with  novels  and  plays  ap- 
pearing frequently  and  establishing  a 
gay  cultural  presence  of  sorts  that,  in 
turn,  fostered  the  individual's  sense  of 
identity.  Oppression  was  real:  Vining 
was  busted  in  Central  Park  and  spent 
two  weeks  on  Riker's  Island  (fortunate- 
ly for  us,  since  we  at  least  get  a  glimpse 
of  another  side  of  the  gay  community: 
the  street  queens,  many  of  them  black); 
he  was  robbed  by  a  trick  and  assaulted 
in  the  park;  at  times,  he  worried  about 
exposure  and  felt  keenly  the  pain  of 
having  to  mask  his  true  self. 

One  of  the  most  valuable  features  of 
this  second  volume  is  the  insight  it  gives 
into  the  workings  of  internalized  op- 
pression. Let  me  say  immediately  that 
Vining,  by  any  standards,  is  a  "well- 
adjusted"  homosexual.  He  is  not  con- 
sumed by  self-hatred  and  despair  nor 
prone  to  suicide  or  depression.  He  takes 
his  work  seriously,  is  fairly  upfront 
about  his  sexual  orientation  and  has 
high  self-esteem.  But  he  is  also  given  to 
irrational  outbursts  of  invective  against 
gay  life,  is  horrified  by  the  slightest 
trace  of  effeminacy  and  frequently 
remarks  favourably  when  a  masculine- 
looking  man  turns  out  to  be  gay,  and 
can  barely  disguise  his  contempt  for 
regular  bar-goers  who  only  want  the 
companionship  of  other  homosexuals. 
Vining  eschews  the  bar  scene,  but  one 
result  is  that  his  sexual  liaisons  occur 
not  where  friends  gather  or  where 
socializing  goes  on,  but  in  the  park  or 
through  street  pickups  —  a  setting  that 
encourages  isolation,  anonymity  and  the 
divorce  of  sexuality  from  the  rest  of  his 
life.  How  I  wish  for  a  diary  from  a 
barfly!  Most  perversely,  Vining 
repeatedly  denies  that  he  is  oppressed 
and  claims  that  he  has  not  encountered 
the  hostility  and  injustice  that  other 


homosexuals  complain  about  —  this 
despite  jailings,  robberies  and  assaults! 

The  not-so-hidden  implication  is  that 
gays  were  to  blame  for  the  mess  they 
were  in.  If  their  wrists  weren't  limp  and 
they  just  stopped  whining,  everything 
would  be  fine.  Without  a  political 
movement,  however,  and  without  a  so- 
cial interpretation  of  one's  personal 
situation,  it  is  hard  to  imagine  an  alter- 
native response.  To  acknowledge  one's 
oppression  yet  not  have  a  way  out  leads 
to  the  despair  and  depression  that  Vin- 
ing escaped.  Yet  Vining  maintained  his 
equilibrium  in  part  by  distancing  him- 
self from  other  gay  men.  A  Gay  Diary 
thus  reveals  the  ihsidiousness  of  oppres- 
sion: in  trying  to  survive  as  individuals 
we  often  stumble  upon  unconscious, 
unplanned  strategies  that  perpetuate  our 
condition. 

This  is  not  the  best  note  on  which  to 
end  this  review.  A  Gay  Diary  is  good 
reading;  the  novelty  of  the  genre  makes 
the  book  compelling  and  it's  almost  im- 
possible not  to  be  captivated  by  the  in- 
side view  of  a  gay  man's  life  and  the 
forgotten  details  of  daily  existence  a 
generation  ago.  You  can  read  Volume 
Two  without  having  read  its  predeces- 
sor, though  I  suspect  that  most  readers 
will  then  want  to  find  out  what  they 
missed. 

John  D'EmilioD 


Playing  it  straight 

FIREWORKS!  The  Theatre  Centre,  Toronto 
December  1980. 

Fireworks.',  a  festival  of  new  plays  pro- 
duced by  Fireweed,  a  women's  cultural 
journal,  was  an  intensive  programme  of 
fully  staged  plays,  workshops  and  read- 
ings. The  plays  staged  in  the  festival 
were  the  winners  of  the  national  wom- 
en's playwrighting  competition  that 
posed  the  question  (on  the  now  notori- 
ous poster  of  a  nude  blonde  woman 
covering  her  torso  with  a  bulky  type- 
writer), "...But  can  she  write?"  The 
festival  answered  the  question  empha- 
tically, and  as  we  knew  all  along,  she 
can  unquestionably  write. 

The  four  winning  plays  were  staged 
twice  each  in  evening  performances. 
Though  they  were  full-scale  produc- 
tions, they  were  still  called  workshops 
because  they  were  continually  in  a  pro- 
cess of  evolution,  with  the  writers, 
directors  and  casts  working  on  them, 
discussing  them  and  making  changes 
right  through  the  final  showing. 

Of  the  four,  the  one  I  liked  best  was 


You  bet  she  can  write!  Playwright  Robin  Endres  (on  phone),  director  Kate  Lushington  (on  lap) 
with  the  cast  for  the  Fireworks!  production  of  Ghost  Dance. 


30/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


Kathleen  McDonnell's  Risk  Factors. 
Colleen  Murphy  played  the  role  of  a 
cynical  and  resilient  single  mother  with 
a  history  of  chronic  depressions.  The 
play  centres  on  her  attempt  to  regain 
custody  of  her  two  children,  who  have 
been  put  into  a  foster  home  during  her 
last  bout  of  hospitalization.  The  play 
effectively  captures  the  atmosphere,  lan- 
guage and  pace  of  life  in  an  Ontario 
Housing  development,  with  the  vicious 
cycle  of  welfare,  case  workers  and  dead 
ends.  Best  of  all  is  the  sense  of  commu- 
nity that  is  presented,  particularly  the 
strong  support  group  of  women  which 
becomes  the  only  structure  that  enables 
them  to  survive. 

The  other  three  plays  were  equally 
worthy  of  presentation.  Wanderers  in 
the  Wilderness  by  Susan  H  Poteet  pre- 
sents the  intimate  and  claustrophobic 
world  of  a  Nova  Scotia  village  quilting 
bee.  The  play  has  no  individual  heroine, 
but  brings  to  life  the  characters  of 
several  diverse  and  likable  women. 
Again,  there  is  a  strong  sense  of  the 
importance  of  the  community  of  women 
in  village  life,  and  the  tolerance  and 
support  that  exist  despite  their  dif- 
ferences. Mary  Hawkins's  Limb  Dark- 
ening, cosmic  and  bleak  in  vision,  uses 
words  to  create  a  surrealistic,  futuristic 
world  in  which  the  remnants  of  civiliza- 
tion are  threatened  by  the  pollution  that 
we  have  brought  to  our  planet.  Ghost 
Dance  by  Robin  Endres,  unfortunately 
the  production  I  didn't  see,  deals  with 
an  actual  event  —  the  birth  of  the  first 
white  child  in  the  West  in  1808.  The  play 
is  a  series  of  monologues  and  interac- 
tions among  five  female  characters  who 
represent  diverse  aspects  of  the  lives  of 
women. 

The  only  reading  I  managed  to  attend 
was  Carol  Libman's  Still  Waters,  but  I 
gather  that  it  was  representative.  The 
conventional  theme,  a  middle-aged  wri- 
ter given  renewed  creativity  by  his  long- 
suffering  wife,  presents  a  less-than- 
feminist  philosophy.  The  focus  on  the 
all-important  male  creativity  and  on  a 
stereotyped  pattern  of  father-son  bond- 
ing are  not  outweighed  by  the  glimmer- 
ings of  independence  in  the  wife.  The 
other  plays  presented  as  readings  were 
Kathleen  Turner's  Places  of  Waiting  and 
Second  Chance  by  Aviva  Ravel. 

The  festival  ended  with  the  presenta- 
tion of  ten-year-old  Vija  Eger's  The 
Christmas  Party.  Although  authored  by 
the  winner  of  Fireweed's  "Shining 
Hope  for  the  Future"  award,  the  play 
was  given  a  cloying  and  condescending 
production.  The  festival  organizers 
assured  me  that  while  they  accepted  full 
responsibility  for  the  selection  of  the 
script,  they  had  not  been  warned  of  the 
teacher-director's  particular  approach 
to  the  production. 

Not  to  end  on  a  pessimistic  note,  I 
found  the  festival  an  overall  success  and 
felt  that  it  met  its  objectives  substantial- 
ly. It  was  successful  both  as  a  showcase 
and  as  a  stimulus  for  new  playwrighting 
talent,  as  evidenced  by  the  quality  of  the 
entries,  the  discussion  promoted  be- 
tween and  after  the  sessions  and  the 
evolving  quality  of  the  productions.  The 
festival  also  attempted  to  represent  a 
wide  variety  of  women's  experience  and 
consciousness,  and  the  choices  were  ef- 
fectively varied,  with  several  very  con- 
spicuous absences.  One  of  my  major 
criticisms  of  the  festival  was  the  lack  of 
virtually  any  lesbian  content  in  the 
plays,  except  for  a  faint  motif  in  Robin 
Endrcs's  Ghost  Dance.  Surely  such  a 
crucial  area  of  women's  experience  has 
a  place  in  a  festival  of  women's  plays.  I 
also  felt  the  lack  of  sufficient  political 
content  or  criticism  in  much  of  the 
tival.  Again,  if  it  is  to  he  a  fcminisi 


Elsa  Gidlow  turned  82  this  past  December.  All  these  years  she's  been  a  lover  of 
women,  and  for  most  of  them  she  has  been  a  writer.  She  came  to  Canada  as  a 
child  and  lived  her  formative  years  in  Montreal,  starting  to  work  for  the  CPR  in 
her  mid- teens.  Anyone  who  has  seen  Word  Is  Out  will  remember  Elsa  being 
interviewed  in  her  California  garden.  Those  like  myself  who  always  wanted  to 
know  more  about  this  "pioneer,  "  and  perhaps  through  her  more  about  lesbian 
and  gay  life  in  Canadian  cities  before  our  own  time,  will  be  pleased  to  know  that 
Ms  G  id  low's  autobiographical  writings  are  starting  to  appear  in  several  women 's 
studies  journals. 

So  far  "Footprints  in  the  Sands  of  the  Sacred"  has  been  published  in  the 
Lesbian  History  Issue  of  Frontiers  and  "Memoirs"  in  Feminist  Studies.  Of  the 
two,  "Memoirs"  is  more  expansive,  focussing  on  her  Montreal  adolescence 
prior  to  her  departure  for  New  York  in  1920.  The  descriptions  of  the  women 
with  whom  she  worked,  the  ongoing  process  of  her  sexual  self-definition,  her 
frustration  with  the  expectation  that  she,  like  all  the  young  women  around  her, 
should  and  would  get  married,  and  finally  the  description  of  her  own  first  affair 
with  a  woman  named  Marguerite  are  all  fascinating  as  personal  history.  Gay 
men  will  perhaps  want  to  read  more  about  Roswell  George  Mills  —  briefly 
mentioned  in  the  film,  described  in  "Memoirs"  as  "the  most  ambiguously 
beautiful  being  I  knew"  —  who  wore  exquisite  make-up,  exotic  jewellery  and 
when  at  home,  bronze  silk  robes.  He  worked  for  the  Montreal  Star  and  wrote, 
among  other  things,  a  column  under  an  assumed  female  name,  dispensing  "very 
proper  council"  for  "the  lovelorn. "  It  was  Mills  who  introduced  Elsa  to  the 
works  of  Carpenter,  Sappho,  Mallarme,  Wilde  and  Whitman  and  most 
importantly  to  her  first  lover,  Marguerite. 

If  "Memoirs"  and  "Footprints"  are  any  indication,  I  hope  it  won't  be  long 
before  the  first  volume  of  Elsa  Gidlow's  autobiography  is  published. 

Bruce  Russell '□ 


festival  of  plays,  political  and  social 
critique  should  figure  prominently. 
If  the  festival  is  to  continue  as  a 
regular  exercise  (as  I  hope  it  will),  the 
organizers  will  have  to  come  to  terms 
more  concretely  with  the  philosophy 
behind  the  festival.  They  will  have  to 
decide  to  what  extent  the  festival  is  to 
function  as  a  showcase  for  new 
women's  plays  whatever  their  content 
and  ideology,  and  to  what  extent  the 
festival  is  to  be  a  platform  for  feminist 
ideals  and  growth. 

Jean  KowalewskiD 

Pulp  with  class 

Class  Notes  by  Kate  Stimpson.  Avon  Books, 
1980.  $2.25. 

The  bulk  of  lesbian  fiction,  written  by 
lesbians,  is  generally  pretty  dismal  stuff 
—  deadly  earnest  and  wretchedly  writ- 
ten. Relief  is  afforded  by  the  odd 
romantic,  non-exploitative  pulp  and  the 
occasional  well-written  serious  novel. 
Happily,  Class  Notes  is  a  hybrid 
pulp/serious  novel,  combining  humour, 
.  good  character  development 

and  a  touch  oi  romance  to  produce  a 

highly  readable  and  well  •structured 
novel. 
A  formulaic  story  line  gives  the  booh 


its  pulp  element.  The  protagonist, 
Harriet  Springer,  grows  up  in  North- 
ville,  Washington  in  the  late  Forties.  She 
attends  Harwyn,  a  fictional  women's 
college  in  New  York  State,  and  moves  to 
New  York  City  to  pursue  a  career  as  a 
researcher /writer. 

Those  of  us  who  never  made  it  with 
the  captain  of  the  football  team  and 
never  shook  a  pom-pom  at  half-time 
have  a  new  heroine  in  Harriet.  She  is  ill 
at  ease  within  the  limited  confines  of 
Fifties  femininity.  She  is  no  beauty 
queen  —  her  nose  is  too  big,  her  body  is 


MARCH  1981 


ungainly,  her  hair  is  unmanageable  and 
grows  in  all  the  wrong  places,  and  all 
those  helpful  hints  she  has  memorized 
from  the  advice  columns  still  leave  her 
decorating  the  wall  at  school  dances. 

Harriet's  lesbianism  is  skillfully 
handled.  Her  first  relationship,  with  a 
character  by  the  improbable  name  of 
Sloan  Trouver,  lasts  the  better  part  of 
her  stay  at  Harwyn.  It  is  as  full  of  un- 
consummated  passion,  frustration,  pain 
and  power  imbalance  as  the  first  rela- 
tionships of  lesbians  tend  to  be.  Her 
next  partner  is  a  charismatic,  rich,  at- 
tractive New  York  Jew.  This  affair  is 
consummated  and  makes  for  some  fun, 
steamy  pulp  romance.  A  blend  of  antici- 
pation, romance,  exhilaration,  fear,  and 
final  acceptance  shows  author  Kate 
Stimpson  to  possess  a  considerable 
talent  for  writing  good  pulp. 

Class  Notes  is  unrelenting  in 
documenting  Harriet's  arduous  rites  of 
passage.  It  is  alternately  funny  and 
painful.  Enough  laughter  is  generated 
by  the  book's  irreverent  depiction  of  the 
Fifties  and  Harriet's  sardonic  wit  that  it 
is  possible  to  slog  through  even  the  most 
agonizing,  embarrassing  and  horribly 
familiar  of  scenes. 

A  number  of  problems  with  writing 
style  recur  throughout  the  book.  Such 
obvious  flaws  as  occasional  jerky  transi- 
tions between  thought,  action  and  dia- 
logue, an  overuse  and  abuse  of  meta- 
phors, wooden  phrasing  and  confusing 
syntax,  as  well  as  a  number  of  gram- 
matical howlers,  should  have  been  spot- 
ted by  any  half-awake  editor. 

Overall,  Class  Notes  was  a  joy  to 
read.  A  first  novel  of  such  quality,  com- 
passion and  high  spirits  is  an  exciting 
addition  to  lesbian  fiction. 

Bronwen  Mc  GarvaD 

Isherwood  and  guru 

My  Guru  and  His  Disciple  by  Christopher 
Isherwood.  Farrar  Strauss  Giroux  (Canada: 
McGraw-Hill  Ryerson),  1980.  $15.50 

"My  leftism  was  confused  by  an  in- 
creasingly aggressive  awareness  of  my- 
self as  a  homosexual  and  by  a  newly 
made  discovery  that  I  was  a  pacifist. 
...I  couldn 7  repeat  the  left- wing  slogans 
which  I  had  been  repeating  throughout 
the  last  few  years.  " 

With  the  advent  of  Hitler  and  the 
conscription  of  his  lover  into  the  Nazi 
army,  the  continuation  of  Christopher 
Isherwood's  life  in  Berlin,  as  described 
in  Christopher  And  His  Kind,  becomes 
impossible  and  the  prospect  of  fighting 
for  the  Allies  unthinkable.  It  was  the 
search  for  some  workable  pacifist  ideo- 
logy that  had  brought  Christopher 
Isherwood  and  W  H  Auden  to  New  York 
in  that  turbulent  January  of  1939,  and  it 
is  there  that  Isherwood  again  picks  up 
the  uniquely  personal  and  refreshingly 
frank  account  of  his  life  in  his  most  re- 
cent book,  My  Guru  And  His  Disciple. 

The  last  thing  in  the  world  that 
Isherwood  was  looking  for  was  religion. 
"The  Christians  I  saw  as  sour  life-haters 
and  sex-forbidders....  The  Hindus  I  saw 
as  stridently  emotional  mystery-mon- 
gers." But,  after  meeting  Aldous  Hu\- 
l.\  and  Gerald  Heard  in  I  os  Angei 
he  discovered  that  "to  become  a  true 
pacifist,  you  had  to  find  peace  within 
yourself."  So  it  was  in  California,  in  the 
hills  o(  Hollywood  rather  than  ol  I  ibet. 
that  one  of  our  foremost  craftsmen  o( 

(he  English  language  met  the  man  who 
was  lo  become  both  father  and  mother, 

teacher  and  friend,  collaborator  and 

mastei  to  him  loi  the  res!  ol  his  life- 
time,  and  much  longer  even  than  that. 
Isherwood's  wit,  his  objectivit)  and. 
above  all.  his  uncompromising  honest) 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/31 


make  every  page  of  this  book  fairly 
glow  with  the  love  that  was  shared  be- 
tween them. 

When  Swami  Prabhavananda  first 
taught  "Chris"  to  meditate,  and  later 
when  he  accepted  him  as  a  student,  he 
began  with  ancient  rituals  a  relationship 
that  has  been  initiated  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  times  throughout  thou- 
sands of  years.  While  we  delight  in  the 
descriptions  of  Swami  and  Chris  having 
lunch  with  Greta  Garbo,  or  going  to 
plead  the  case  of  a  young  disciple  in  the 
principal's  office  at  Hollywood  High 
School  whence  he  had  recently  been  ex- 
pelled, we  are  treated  to  some  intimate 
insights  into  this  ancient  relationship  of 
guru  and  disciple,  making  the  book  not 
only  enjoyable  but  invaluable  for  any 
serious  student  of  religion.  The  portrait 
offered  here  of  the  love  between  these 
two  men  is  not  one  of  the  imperfect, 
self-interested,  human  love  so  incisively 
portrayed  by  Isherwood  elsewhere.  The 
guru  is  seen  not  only  as  a  teacher  who 
loves,  but  as  the  very  incarnation  of 
Love  itself.  The  guru,  once  having  ac- 
cepted a  disciple,  can  never  reject  him, 
even  if  rejected  by  him.  The  guru  cer- 
tainly would  never  reject  a  disciple 
simply  for  failure  to  conform  to  the  lim- 
ited social  notions  of  morality.  Such 
constraints  are  viewed  in  Vedanta  (the 
highest  form  of  Hindu  philosophy) 
merely  as  one  more  entrapment  of  the 
material  world,  one  more  distraction 
from  God.  "Swami  said  that  Maharaj 
had  told  him  that  morality  is  unimpor- 
tant if  you  have  devotion  to  God.  'But 
of  course  we  can't  preach  that,'  Swami 
added,  with  a  giggle."  Real  purity,  says 
Swami,  "is  always  to  tell  the  truth." 

In  this  sense,  My  Guru  is  a  very  pure 
book.  As  Isherwood  says: 
"It  is  most  important  not  to  make  these 
confessions  about  the  ego  as  though 
they  were  horrifying.  They  are  not  — 
and  it  is  mere  vanity  to  pretend  that  the 
ego  doesn  7  come  along  with  you  every 
step  of  the  way;  it  is  there  like  your 
sinus,  and  its  intrusions  are  no  more 
shocking  than  sneezing. " 

Ron  HavernD 

Gothic  romance 
—  lavender-style 

Gaywyck  by  Vincent  Virga.  Avon  Books, 
1980.  $2.95. 

There  is,  conceivably,  a  breed  of  gay 
men  whose  most  cherished  fantasy  con- 
sists of  something  other  than  being 
enveloped,  nay,  smothered  in  the  pro- 
tective arms  of  a  mysterious,  dark  com- 
plexioned,  broad-shouldered  man,  pref- 
erably on  a  rocky  seashore  during  a 
thunderstorm.  But  even  such  peculiar 
creatures  would  probably  find  this  book 
entertaining.  Short,  perhaps,  of  some 
genetic  imperfection  received  from 
Harlequin-addicted  relatives,  I  can  only 
conclude  that  I  enjoyed  Gaywyck 
because  it's  a  fine  and  well-written 
novel. 

Touted  as  "the  first  gay  gothic 
novel,"  Gaywyck  manages  to  exploit 
the  appeal  of  this  very  familiar  genre 
and,  without  ever  stooping  to  camp  or 
to  parody,  give  us  a  tale  which  is  both 
intrinsically  gay  and  compulsively 
readable. 

The  elements  of  overblown  romance 
and  terror  are  all  intact,  and  the 
characters  do  indeed  have  weeping 
spells  and  fits  of  fainting  (with  a 
disconcerting  regularity,  in  fact).  The 
prototype  gothic  formula  has  not  been 
avoided:  a  young  ingenue  (blond,  of 
course)  is  torn  from  comfortable  family 
surroundings  and  thrust  by  fate  and  cir- 


cumstance onto  the  mercy  of  an  obscure 
black-haired  relative  with  an  unfor- 
tunate family  history.  Vestiges  of  this 
dark  past  are  scattered  throughout  his 
windswept  seaside  mansion,  by  way  of 
sequestered  mad  relatives,  malevolent 
servants  and  scandalous  diaries  and 
photographs.  The  two  lead  characters, 
predictably,  have  a  turbulent  romance, 
the  essential  goodness  of  the  innocent 
newcomer  has  a  cathartic  effect  on  the 
other's  angst-ridden  world,  and  the  evil 
is  purged  through  his/her  very  presence. 

But  what  Virga  has  done  with  this 
outline  (and  may  he  be  visited  nightly  by 
the  ghost  of  Clark  Gable  for  it)  is  invest 
it  with  much  more  than  he  could  easily 
have  gotten  away  with  in  the  lucrative 
gay  pulp  trade. 

Virga  has  peopled  his  novel  with  all 
sorts  of  stimulating  projections  of  how 
gay  men  might  have  lived  at  the  turn  of 
the  century.  Robert  White  is  our  fair- 
haired  innocent,  sent  at  the  tender  age 
of  seventeen  to  work  as  a  librarian  on 


Gaywyck:  Passionate,  piquant  —  and  pink! 


the  fabulous  Long  Island  estate  of 
Gaywyck.  Our  brooding,  black-haired 
mansion-owner  is  Donough  Gaylord, 
who  has  inherited  both  immeasurable 
wealth  and  a  legacy  of  "dark  sexual 
secrets"  —  secrets  which  seem  to  have 


32rTHE  BODY  POLITIC 


New  York  photographer  Arthur  Tress  has  stated:  "What  my  pictures  are  about, , 
and  what  homosexuality  is  for  me  and  for  male  sexuality  in  general,  is  power  — 
power  relationships  and  power  exploitation  in  both  negative  and  positive  ways.  " 

I  suspect  it  is  this  superficial  attitude  that  undermines  much  of  Tress's  most 
recent  portfolio,  Facing  Up  (with  an  introduction  by  Yves  Navarre,  published  by 
Bernard  Letu  Editeur  /  St  Martin 's  Press,  1980.  $13. 95).  The  photographs  are 
certainly  technically  accomplished  —  the  eye  is  treated  to  rich  textures,  details, 
wonderful  play  of  shadow  and  light  and  dramatic  compositions  that  are  often 
almost  too  perfect. 

It  is  instructive  to  compare  Tress  with  two  other  photographers  who  have  used 
the  male  figure  extensively,  Duane  Michals  and  Robert  Mapplethorpe.  Tress  uses 
surrealism  to  create  his  personal  vision,  but  it  is  an  elementary  and  hackneyed 
one  of  belaboured  puns  (a  tatooed  cowboy  holds  a  sputtering  rooster  at  his 
crotch)  and  bizarre  juxtapositions  (a  goggled  nude  is  wired  to  fuse  boxes  in  a 
derelict  building)  that  has  worn  thin  fifty  years  after  Magritte.  In  contrast, 
Michals  has  concocted  a  more  successful  personal  variation  on  surrealism  by 
telling  dream-like  tales  (using  serial  photos  with  handwritten  texts)  that  allow 
more  subtle  explorations  of  erotic  obsessions. 

The  world  ofSM  is  the  most  obvious  source  of  imagery  for  an  artist  interested 
in  the  psychology  of  power.  With  great  sensitivity  and  a  minimum  of 
contrivance,  Mapplethorpe  is  able  to  get  under  the  skin  of  his  SM  subject  matter 
and  give  us  real  insight.  Tress,  on  the  other  hand,  embellishes  his  SM  scenarios 
to  excess,  and  they  slide  disastrously  into  kitsch.  The  worst  offenders  are  his 
"victims,  "  dead  in  a  net  or  splayed  with  tubes,  looking  like  cast  off s  from  the 
cheesiest  of  grade-B  horror  movies. 

However,  there  are  some  exceptional  pictures.  A  luminous  nude  stretches 
sensually  on  a  spiral  slide,  the  swirl  of  metal  cleverly  alluding  to  the  heavenly 
figures  of  William  Blake.  A  couple,  interlocked  like  two  pieces  of  a  jigsaw 
puzzle,  sleep  in  a  sun-filled  room.  A  young  black  cavorts  on  afire  escape  while, 
below,  a  young  white  male  eyes  him  wistfully.  It  is  interesting  to  note,  however, 
that  these  particular  photos  avoid  heavy-handed  surrealism  and  are  certainly  not 
explorations  of  power. 

Andy  FaboO 


involved  practically  every  male  who  ever 
set  foot  on  Gaywyck. 

There  is  also  the  sophisticated,  warm- 
hearted couple  of  Mortimer  and 
Goodbody,  partners  in  life  and  the  legal 
profession;  the  desperately  lonely  and 
unloved  Denvers  and  Deyes,  scholar 
and  musician  respectively;  the  young 
opportunist  Jones,  clawing  his  way  up 
the  social  ladder  through  emotional  and 
financial  blackmail. 

But  Virga  has  saved  his  best  writing 
for  the  charming  relationship  between 
Robert  and  Donough.  (Even  then,  ap- 
parently, gay  men  were  loathe  to  use 
shortened  names  like  Bob,  Don,  Chuck 
or  Harry.  Whence  this  phenomenon? 
Sorry,  I  Donough...)  The  emotional 
bond  and  comforting  trust  between 
these  two  characters  threads  its  way 
lovingly  throughout  the  book  as  the  two 
overcome  deceits,  misunderstandings, 
and  especially  the  eerie  presence  of  the 
sadistic  Cormack,  Donough's  long-gone 
identical  twin. 

Virga  has  a  fine  prose  style,  just  the 
right  side  of  effusive,  and,  unlike  too 
many  gay  popular  fiction  writers,  seems 
to  expect  intelligence  on  the  part  of  his 
readers  —  the  book  is  riddled  with 
enough  literary  references  and  Latin 
proverbs  to  send  Barbara  Cartland 
screaming  for  shelter. 

One  small  fault,  but  one  which  made 
me  uncomfortable  in  these  days  of  the 
gay-with-the-disposable-income  stereo- 
type, is  the  way  Virga  has  glossed  over 
the  economic  disparity  of  the  time.  It 
seems  as  if  we  are  meant  to  gasp  with 
delight  at  the  extravagant  lifestyle  of 
Gaywyck  and  smile  sweetly  when 
Donough  makes  a  token  benevolent  ges- 
ture to  a  servant  or  a  beggar.  I  doubt 
that  the  bulk  of  the  populace  was  as 
satisfied  with  the  status  quo  as  Virga 
depicts. 

Of  course,  Robert  and  Donough  do 
not  even  consummate  ther  relationship 
until  page  295  (and  even  then  not  really 
—  but  that's  for  you  to  find  out!). 
However,  we  know  long  before  that 
point  that  these  two  men  could  live  and 
love  far  beyond  the  final  chapter  of 
Gaywyck. 

John  AllecD 

Mumm's  the  word 

Alicia's  Trump  by  Joseph  Mathewson.  Avon 
Books,  1980.  $2.25. 

My  dears,  Vwejust  settled  down  with 
my  glass  of  chilled  Dom  Perignon  '65 
(not  the  '64,  which  was  a  mite  too 
grapy,  nor  the  '66,  which  was  a  bit  too 
tart)  and  finished  this  new  mystery 
novel.  And  you'd  never  believe  all  the 
trouble  that  Alicia  von  Helsing  gets  into 
when  she  investigates  the  murder  of  her 
young  friend,  the  painter  Ronnie 
Griswold.  I  mean,  here  she  is  in  her 
marvelous  Bill  Blass  outfits,  going  off 
to  see  Eisenstein's  Alexander  Nevsky, 
having  a  Sicilian  maid  named  Santuzza 
(darlings,  we  must  get  in  some  mention 
of  opera),  and  she  stumbles  right  into 
the  middle  of  a  gay  murder!  Not  that 
the  gay  part  bothers  our  Miss  von  H, 
since  she's  as  liberal  as  the  next  liberal 
upper-class  New  Yorker.  After  all,  she 
often  visited  Ronnie  in  his  loft  in  SoHo 
and  even  has  a  son  who  wears  an  ear- 
ring (though  he's  straight,  en  passant, 
since  he  lives  with  a  woman).  And 
wouldn't  you  just  know,  chines,  that 
she  solves  the  murder  which  is  all 
wrapped  up  in  the  occult  and  seances 
and  Tarot  cards?  How  au  courant,  I 
muse,  opening  a  runny  Brie.  Aren't  you 
just  breathless  waiting  for  what  will  pro- 
bably be  a  series  of  books  about  Alicia? 
I'm  not. 

Jon  Kaplan  □ 


MARCH  1981 


Radical  cinema  or  home  movies? 


La  marche  gaie  a  Washington,  directed  by 
Lionel  Soukaz.  France,  1980.  12  minutes. 
Ixe,  Lionel  Soukaz.  France,  1980. 
60  minutes. 

Some  of  us  use  sex  toys  for  our  own 
personal  pleasure;  Lionel  Soukaz  ap- 
proaches film-making  in  somewhat  the 
same  way,  as  a  self-indulgent  preoc- 
cupation. (For  a  review  of  his  earlier 
film,  Race  d'Ep,  see  "History  as 
Tedium,"  TBP,  February,  1980.)  Two 
other  films  by  Soukaz,  La  marche  gaie 
a  Washington  and  Ixe,  are  even  more 
tedious  than  Race  d'Ep,  due  largely  to 
their  collage-style  structure  which  uses 
unoriginal  and  repetitive  experimental 
techniques. 

Starting  with  these  techniques  and 
with  some  interesting  ideas  he  has  on 
creating  a  radical,  personal  cinema, 
Soukaz  attempts  in  both  films  to  de- 
scribe his  personal  vision  of  gay  con- 
sciousness, and  to  place  this  vision  in 
the  context  of  gay  liberation. 

At  the  round-table  discussion  on  gay 
cinema  held  in  Montreal  last  summer, 
Soukaz  advocated  creating  our  own  in- 
dividual films  about  our  lives,  by  using 
Super-8  film  (because  it's  so  cheap)  to 
attempt  to  capture  our  subjective  per- 
ception of  the  world  around  us.  In  prac- 
tice, however,  Soukaz's  theories  are  per- 
haps mainly  a  "radical"  excuse  for 
making  his  own  home  movies,  and  to 
convince  himself  and  his  prospective 
audiences  that,  besides  being  gay,  he  is 
an  Artist. 

Arthur  Bressan,  the  maker  of  Gay 
U.S.A.,  described  why  he  chose  to  film 
gay  pride  demonstrations:  "Historical- 
ly, parades  and  demonstrations  have 
always  been  ways  of  politicizing  people 
without  putting  them  through  the 
wringer.  It  has  traditionally  been  a  way 
that  individuals  can  get  together  and  get 
power  without  dropping  their  individu- 
ality." ("Putting  Gay  Anger  in  Focus," 
John  Schauer,  The  Advocate,  Septem- 
ber 7,  1977.) 

This  is  exactly  what's  missing  in  La 
marche  gaie  a  Washington.  The  film 
simply  doesn't  unite  gay  spectators,  nor 
does  it  help  us  participate  in  our  own 
liberation. 

La  marche  gaie...  never  shows  us  the 
masses  of  gay  demonstrators  in  Wash- 
ington marching  together  in  October, 
1979;  all  we  see  is  a  jumble  of  sequences 
of  different  gay  people  having  a  street 
party,  camping  it  up  for  the  cameras 
and  themselves. 

Later,  all  those  masses  of  people  we 
wanted  to  see  at  the  march  are  shown 
together  at  an  after-march  concert  on 
The  Mall  at  Washington  Monument. 
Unfortunately,  Soukaz  is  not  interested 
in  the  demonstrators  celebrating 
together,  but  in  the  phallic  significance 
of  the  monument  which  towers  over  the 
celebration  in  the  park. 

This  film  dissects  a  huge  political 
event  into  a  series  of  mini-portraits  of 
gays  as  entertainers,  for  the  apparent 
purpose  of  creating  a  myth  out  of  Am- 
erican gay  culture  for  a  French  audi- 
ence. Rather  than  discussing  why  the 
American  movement  is  comparatively  y 
so  much  stronger  than  the  almost  non- 
existent French  gay  movement,  in  order 
perhaps  to  encourage  more  activism 
there,  Souka/  seems  to  be  raying: 
"Well,  here  they  arc.  all  outrageous 
and  gay  and  together;  ain't  that 
wonder  till."       ^M 

iid  film,  is  a  long  film 
"trip"  about  (homo)  sex  and  drugs  and 
disco.  I  he  constant  search  for  instant 


gratification  it  describes  seems  to  be  re- 
lated to  some  very  obscure  philosophi- 
cal comment  on  the  worthlessness  of 
our  own  lives. 

If  I  were  generous  to  the  film,  I 
would  call  it  an  extended  collage  on 
hedonism  in  the  spirit  of  the  late  Sixties. 
The  kind  of  images  which  the  film  clob- 
bers us  with  include  brief  shots  of  many 
kinds  of  sex,  mainlining  heroin,  getting 
dressed  up  in  drag  and  torturing  a  cat 
with  a  dildo. 

Theactivities  and  lifestyle  are  pre- 


Soukaz:  would-be  avante-gardiste 

sented  as  a  major  protest  in  the  film, 
but  it  doesn't  seem  to  know  or  care 
about  what  it's  protesting  against.  Ixe 
tries  to  be  radical  and  very  avant-garde, 
but  it  succeeds  only  in  shocking  the  aud- 
ience with  its  aggressive  editing  and 
head-splitting  sound  track. 

Shock  treatment  admittedly  can  be 
and  usually  is  a  very  effective  strategy  in 
radical  film  work,  but  in  Ixe  it  isn't,  be- 
cause it  has  no  apparent  purpose  or  dir- 
ection. Soukaz  shocks  for  the  sole  pur- 
pose of  shocking.  j&* 

Soukaz  does  attempt,  however,  to 
soak  the  film  in  Meaning  and  Signifi- 
cance by  returning  time  and  time  again 
to  a  sign  which  says  "Vivre"  (live), 
meaning  perhaps:  "This  is  what  life 
really  is,"  or  "This  is  what  it's  sup- 
posed to  be,"  or  maybe  "Is  this  really 
living?" 

Ixe  begins  with,  and  frequently  re- 
turns to,  shots  of  a  city  racing  towards 
us  as  we  view  it  from  a  plane  flying  over 
the  city.  Besides  the  obvious  drug-trip 
analogy,  expanded  upon  at  great  length 
throughout  the  film,  these  shots  and 
other  oblique  references  seem  to  be 
making  a  terribly  important  statement 
about  society  and  the  world  in  general. 
But  this  message,  and  the  rest  ol  the 

film,  dearly  nevei  gel  ofl  the  ground. 

Mark  I  eslie 


Missing  out 
in  the  city? 

Then  don  7  miss 


0ati*zZ*.££ 


riy~~ 


Coming  next  month  in  The  Body  Politic 


MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/33 


Does  your  mother 
know  where  you  are? 

If  you're  at  Lipstick,  probably  not.  Lipstick  is 

Cabbagetown's  late,  great  cafe  bar,  and  it's 

not  exactly  the  kind  of  place  mothers  hang 

out.  Who  will  you  find  at  Lipstick?  Just  about 

anybody  who  likes  nightlife  in  the  city.  From 

the  horn-rimmed  set  to  the  orange  hair  set. 

From  Garber  gowns  to  low  down  leather. 

Mind  you,  some  things  mother  would 

approve.  Like  the  pure  beef  Lipstick  burgers. 

The  delicious  desserts.  The  great  coffee.  Or 

the  fine  house  wines  and  good  drinks.  But  she 

may  not  get  off  on  you  getting  into  good 

music  with  a  good  crowd  until  3  on 

weeknights  and  6  on  weekends.  So  if  Lipstick 

sounds  like  your  scene,  drop  in  and  see  us. 

Just  don't  tell  your  mother  where  you  are. 


The  late,  great  cafe"  bar. 

Weeknights  til  3.  Weekends  til  6. 

580  Parliament  Street,  south  of  Wellesley. 

922-6655. 


L 


F.>kW!l:^: 


Theatre 

D  James  MacSwain,  Halifax  poet  and 
actor,  is  the  author  of  a  new  play, 
Survivors,  which  is  to  be  performed  on 
March  6,  7  and  8  at  the  Public  Archives 
of  Nova  Scotia.  The  two-character  play 
is  to  be  directed  by  Rosemary  Gilbert, 
who  also  directed  the  musical  cabaret- 
performance,  The  Night  They  Raided 
Truxx,  a  feature  of  the  Sixth  Annual 
Conference  for  Lesbians  and  Gay  Men 
held  in  Halifax  in  1978.  —  SM 

□  After  successful  runs  both  on  Broad- 
way and  in  London's  West  End,  Martin 
Sherman's  drama  on  the  Nazi  persecu- 
tion of  homosexuals,  Bent,  is  receiving 
a  startling  number  of  Canadian  produc- 
tions —  four  at  last  count. 

Winnipeg's  Warehouse  Theater 
opened  a  three-week  run  in  late 
January,  and  the  Vancouver's  Arts  Club 
Theater  is  planning  a  March  produc- 
tion. Previews  begin  March  12th  for  an 
$85,000  production  of  the  play  at 
Toronto's  Bathurst  Street  Theater,  to 
star  Richard  Monette  (of  Hosanna 
fame),  which  will  run  from  March  17th 
to  May  2nd.  And  in  Edmonton, 
Theater  3's  Raymond  Clarke,  noted  for 
his  writing  and  performance  of  Oscar: 
A  Portrait  of  Oscar  Wilde,  hopes  to 
donate  a  preview  of  their  March  pro- 
duction to  Edmonton's  GATE.         — J  A 

Books 

Parents  of  the  Homosexual  by  David 
and  Shirley  Switzer.  McGraw-Hill  Ryer- 
son,  1980.  $8.50. 

The  authors  of  this  slim(y)  little  volume 
attempt  to  provide  Christian  parents 
with  a  guide  to  the  harrowing  range  of 
"understandable"  reactions  they  may 
experience  upon  learning  of  their  off- 
spring's gayness  —  anything  from 
that's-impossible-dear-just-eat-your- 
supper  to  a  desire  to  kill.  The  "af- 
flicted" parents  are  counselled  to  con- 
trol their  anger.  Not  because  it  is  wrong, 
cruel,  unjustified  or  illegal,  mind  you, 
but  because  it  is  "counterproductive" 
in  the  struggle  to  save  the  family.  The 
Family  is  the  authors'  first,  foremost 
and  final  concern,  and  all  concepts  are 
subordinated  to  and  defined  by  it.  (A 
novice  might  be  excused  for  believing, 
after  reading  this  book,  that  a  homosex- 
ual is  an  adult  who  chooses,  predom- 
inantly or  exclusively,  to  bring  a  mem- 
ber of  his  or  her  own  sex  home  for 
Christmas  or  Thanksgiving.)  Treated 
like  a  possesion,  the  gay  child  doesn't 
get  much  airplay  in  this  book.  At  any 
cost,  recommend  the  authors,  draw  that 
wayward  son  or  daughter  back  into  the 
warmth  of  your  Christian  home  —  as  a 
second-class  citizen,  of  course. 

— Gerry  Oxford 

□  Wood,  Ink  and  Paper  by  Ger  Bender 
a  Brandis,  The  Porcupine's  Quill,  1980, 
$7.95. 

A  charming  little  book  of  wood  engrav- 
ings with  every  detail  in  the  right  place. 
A  gem  from  a  man  with  a  touch. 

Libby  by  Milt  Machlin.  Tower  Books, 
1980,  $2.75. 

Libby  Holman  was  a  bluesy  torch  singer 
who  starred  in  a  number  of  Broadway 
revues  in  the  late  Twenties  and  early 
Thirties.  Today  she  is  chiefly  remem- 
bered for  her  involvement  in  the  1932 
murder  trial  of  her  husband  Z  Smith 
Reynolds,  heir  to  the  Reynolds  tobacco 
fortune. 

Although  Holman  was  primarily  a 
lesbian,  counting  among  her  lovers 
Jeanne  Eagels,  the  famous  stage  actress, 
Josephine  Baker,  Tallulah  Bankhead, 


Jane  Bowles,  the  writer,  and  Louisa 
Jenney,  the  Du  Pont  heiress,  the  book 
dwells  on  her  relationships  with  men,  all 
of  whom  were  unresolved  homosexuals. 
Despite  the  engrossing  subject  matter, 
Libby  is  an  obvious  attempt  to  profit 
from  the  current  interest  in  sensa- 
tionalists "gay"  biographies.  The-book 
suffers  from  sloppy  journalism,  occa- 
sional glimpses  of  the  author's  moral 
discomfort,  a  lack  of  original  research 
—  most  notably  the  section  on 
Holman's  relationship  with  Mont- 
gomery Clift  —  and  some  vagueness 


Libby  Holman:  Worth  a  skim  for  trash  addicts 

concerning  her  lesbian  affairs.  Still, 
there  is  sufficient  name-dropping  and 
anecdotal  material  to  make  Libby  worth 
a  skim  for  addicts  of  lesbian  and  homo- 
sexual trash .  — Bronwen  Mc  Garva 

Films 

DCineforum  at  12  Mercer  St  in  Toronto 
(368-4207)  is  presenting  a  History  of  the 
Blue  Movie.  This  series  of  complete  and 
uncut  porn  films  includes  Wakefield 
Poole's  landmark  gay  Bijou. 
DThe  Canadian  Images  Film  Festival 
(Box  163,  Peter  Robinson  College, 
Trent  University,  Peterborough,  ON 
K9J  7B8)  will  be  running  a  series  of  gay 
films  during  their  festival  March  12-16. 
The  series  includes  screenings  of  David 
and  Paul,  Three  of  Us,  Son  of  the 
Family,  Minimum  Charge,  Michael:  A 
Gay  Son  and  Sharing  the  Secret. 

Music 

D  Popular  lesbian  singer  Holly  Near  will 
be  performing  at  the  University  of 
Toronto's  Convocation  Hall  Friday, 
March  20  at  8  PM.  Near,  accompanied 
by  pianist  Adrienne  Torf,  is  on  a  tour  to 
promote  her  soon-to-be-released  album 
Fire  in  the  Rain.  Tickets  are  $7  at  the 
door  or  $6  in  advance  from  Toronto 
Women's  Bookstore,  Glad  Day  Book- 
shop and  the  SAC  office  at  U  of  T. 

— SM 


Our  contributors 

In  his  spare  time,  John  Allec  seduces  swarthy 
strangers  and  works  as  a  secretary. . .  Douglas 
Chambers  teacher  English  at  Trinity  College,  University 
of  Toronto. . .  John  D'Emllio,  a  New  Yorker,  is  at  pres- 
ent researching  the  gay  movement  in  the  Fifties  and  Six- 
ties. . .  Andy  Fabo  is  a  Toronto  artist. . .  Ron  Havern 
holds  degrees  in  philosophy  and  theology  from  West 
Virginia  University  and  Harvard.  He  is  currently  a  free- 
lance photographer. . .  Jon  Kaplan  is  a  Toronto  editor 
and  teacher...  Jean  Kowaleskl  is  a  librarian  with  the 
East  York  Public  Library. . .  Mark  Leslie  studies  film  at 
Concordia  University  in  Montreal...  Michael  Lynch  has 
been  researching  the  emergence  of  homosexuality  in  the 
nineteenth  century...  Bronwen  Mc  Garva  writes  from 
British  Columbia...  Gerry  Oxford  works  with  computers 
in  Toronto.    Bruce  Russell  is  an  historian  and  biblio- 
phile living  in  Montreal...  Ian  Young  is  publishing  a 
new  collection  of  short  stories  called  On  the  Line. 


34/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


ThelvoryTunnel 


Gay  Small  Press  by  Ian  Young 


Card  phile 


For  some  time  I've  been  collecting  gay 
and  male  image  postcards  and  greeting 
cards.  Though  there  are  still  relatively 
few  images  of  males  depicted  affec- 
tionately together,  the  last  couple  of 
years  have  produced  an  encouraging 
variety  of  pics.  Here  are  a  few  samples. 
The  artists'  names  are  in  parentheses 
followed  by  the  publishers  or  book- 
shops where  they  can  be  obtained. 

Clockwise  from  lop  right.fStarr  Ockenga)  Robert 
Samuel  Gallery,  795  Broadway,  New  York  NY; 
(Vita  Greeting  Cards)  Glad  Day  Books,  648 A 
Yonge  St,  Toronto  M4Y  2A6;  (Kenneth  Green, 
portrait  of  Peter  Pears  and  Ben- 
jamin Britten)  National  Portrait 
Gallery,.  Trafalgar  Square,  Lon- 
don, England;  (Tiber  Press) 
Greetings,  Chrisopher  and  Gay 
Streets,  New  York,  NY;  (Richard 
Lon  Cohen)  The  Driven  Rain, 
Box  156,  Kentfteld,  CA  94904; 
(Harvey  Redding)  Atlantis,  Box 
56,  New  York,  NY  10014;  (Ben 
Jones)  15  Goldsmith  A  ve, 
Newark,  NJ. 


SKIN  CARE  CLINIC 


The  ultimate  in  European  Skin  Care 

Treatments  to  assure  spectacular  and  lasting 
results  in  the  following  cases: 

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open  pores 
dry  aging  skin 
flabby  skin 
double  chin 
pigmentation  marks 
couperose  skin 
wrinkled  and  aging  skin 


$10.00  DISCOUNTON  FACIAL  TREATMENT 

WITH  THIS  AD! 


2906  Bloor  Street  West 
Toronto,Ontario 

(EASTOFROYALYORKRD.) 

239-0642 


Video  recorders 
from  $888.00 


1.  Watch  one  TV  channel  while  you 
record  another. 

2.  Programme  recorder  to  tape  up  to 
14  hours  while  you're  away  without 
having  to  turn  your  set  on. 

3.  Large  selection  of  the  latest 
movies  in  Beta  and  VHS 

Also  Atari  and  Intellivision  video  games. 
Video  camera,  film  to  tape  transfer,  TV  sets, 

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large  screen  TVs,  custom-made  films  — 
we  will  tape  your  special  events.  Movie 
rentals  as  low  as  $3  a  day. 

VIDEO  LAND 

1158  THE  QUEENSWAY,  TORONTO  255-7543 


MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/35 


Everybody  loves  us! 


ISO 
NINTH  ST. 


Hotel  El  Dorado 

A  renovated  Victorian  centrally  located  to  the  Folsom,  Castro  and  Polk  areas. 

Morning  coffee  in  the  skylit  lounges,  free  continental  breakfast, 

impeccably  maintained  rooms.  Join  guests  from  around  the  world  in  the 

warm  and  friendly  experience  that  has  made  us  the  San  Francisco  favorite. 

a  pensione  in  San  Francisco 
Rates  from  $23.50  150  Ninth  Street  (415)  552-3100 


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Peter 
Brown 

9680016  BOOK    NOW  !  968  0016 

546  Parliament  Street.  Toronto.  Ontario.  Canada.  M4X  1P6 


^ 


Niontgomery 
Leathers 

Box   161,     Agincourt,     Ontario 

Canada     M1S  3B6 

Illustrated  Catalogue  $3.50 
^^                    Plus  75c  Postage 

^^^£^&                                  (Refunded 

LVV7W1 

Hi^fl    WT                              $35.00) 

^|^              Vfy^mF                             Chargex, 

J^fc         ILy" '    ml  \                               Visa  or 

^^Bflifc^'lfl                                           Mastercharge 

■— ;~^^^T '^^^AB                                                  accepted. 

^^^^JUjj^^^^^^                                    B255 

LIGHTHOUSE  COURT 

An  exquisitely  relaxed  compound  of  apartments, 
guesthouse,  cottage  with  private  guest  accom- 
modations, health  club,  and  pool. 
Across  from  the  Hemingway  House 
902  Whitehead,  Key  West,  Fl.  33040 
(305)  294-9588 


Classifieds 


FRIENDS  At 


Toronto 


28,  GAY  LADY,  unconventional,  held  captive 
at  uptight  commercial  art  course.  Seeks  same 
or  older  in  the  arts  for  friendship.  Shy,  sincere, 
crazy,  warm  honest  artists  loves  variety,  out- 
doors, dancing,  travel,  film,  sports.  Not  into 
bar  scene.  5'8",  intelligent,  feminine,  attrac- 
tive, romantic,  lots  of  interests.  Send  letter 
and  phone  no.  All  replies  answered. 
Drawer  C301. 


FRIENDS  f 


International 


BLACK  AND  WHITE  Men  Together;  At  last! 
an  International  Social/Support  Group. 
Write:    BWMT-ZF,   279  Collingwood,   San 

Francisco,  Calif.,  94114. 

COMRADES!  Need  roof  —  buy  or  rent. 
Dream  —  a  rural  commune  or  just  near  affec- 
tionate faggots.  49  years,  good  shape, 
gardener  by  trade.  Money  OK.  Enough  to  help 
with  another's  (or  group's)  dream.  Drawer 
C286 


Alberta 


UNIV.  OF  ALBERTA  student,  23,  (looks  old- 
er), considerate,  discreet,  looks  forward  to 
sharing  companionship  this  summer  with 
fellow  student  or  recent  grad.  Varied  interests 
include:  bicycling,  learning  to  play  tennis, 
movies,  reading  in  the  sun.  If  you've  got  the 
time  to  invest  in  getting  to  know  someone,  let's 
discover  what  else  we've  got  in  common. 

Drawer  C279. 

MALE,  27,  6'3",  195  lbs,  brown  hair,  eyes, 
trim  beard,  seeks  men  21-35  years  who  believe 
in  being  friends  first  and  sexual  intimacy  sec- 
cond.  Varied  interests,  people  being  a  big 
priority.  Honesty  and  sincerity  make  me  com- 
fortable. Let's  enjoy  all!  Discreet.  Drawer 
C215. 

Atlantic  Canada 

HALIFAX  Professional.  Male,  50, 5*10",  145 
lbs,  affectionate,  honest,  discreet.  Seeks 
similar  type  for  friendship.  Penpals  welcome. 
C281. 

CLEAN.  STRAIGHT-APPEARING  well- 
built  white  male,  38,  5' 10",  180  lbs.  Casual 
meetings  or  long-term  friendship.  Discretion 

essential.  Halifax  area.  Drawer  CI 84. 

LEAN,  HANDSOME  country  guy  needs 
place  to  stay  for  Halifax  visits.  Prefer  slim, 
masculine,  independent  men.  I'll  share  if  you 
can.  Box  1288,  Digby,  NS  BOW  1T0. 
DARTMOUTH.  Gay  male,  35  yrs,  5'1 1",  150 
lbs,  new  to  area,  would  like  to  meet  friends 
with  the  same  interests.  Must  be  discreet.  All 
replies  answered.  Drawer  C237. 

British  Columbia 

GOOD-LOOKING  DUTCH  GUY,  23,  com- 
ing to  Vancouver  soon.  Seeks  lover  and 
friends.  Dennis  Mitchell,  Pienemanstraat  1 311 

1072  KG  Amsterdam,  Holland. 

VICTORIA  gay  male  couple,  masculine,  early 
30s,  wishes  to  meet  new  friends.  Discretion  ex- 

pected  and  assured.  Drawer  C205. 

BURNABY  —  warm  affectionate  40-yr-old 
male  seeking  friends  interested  in  the  mutual 
pleasures  of  spanking.  No  S&M.  Drawer 
C211.  

VANCOUVER  MALE,  29,  intelligent,  hap- 
py, active,  attractive.  Classical  musician.  To 
meet  friends  for  cycling,  hiking,  quiet  times. 
Hung,  hot,  ready.  Drawer  C277. 

RECENT  ADVOCATE  EXPERIENCE  grad 
wants  to  join  or  help  start  grad  in-home  sup- 
port group,  Vancouver  area.  271-5669  after  6. 
Let's  try,  we're  worth  it.  Drawer  C214. 

EXPERIENCED  NON-DOMINANT  lithe 
W  /  M  welcomes  masculine,  loyal  man  to  share 
development  Fraser-side  ranch.  Monoga- 
mous, discreet  living  assured,  youth  no  handi- 
cap. Details  please,  all  answered.  Drawer 
C219. 

TRUCKERS  AND  TRAVELLERS:  rest  at 
Revelstoke.  Chad,  age  28,  athletic  and  adven- 
turesome. Interested  in  well-proportioned 
men.  Phone  Chad  (604)  837-6587.  Revelstoke 
on  Hwy  No  1. 


Manitoba 


I'M  28,  BLUE-EYED,  very  well-hung,  and 
muscular.  If  you  are  a  bodybuilder,  I  want  to 
meet  you.  Discretion.  Drawer  C104.        


Ottawa-Eastern  Ontario 

GOOD-LOOKING  male,  20s,  135  lbs,  5'9", 
brown  hair  and  eyes,  likes  good  minds  and 
bodies,  enjoys  sports,  body-building.  Seeks 
man  25  to  35,  must  be  sincere.  Send  photo  if 
possible.  Drawer  C258. 

W/M,  30's,  132  lbs,  5'8",  interests  include 
good  food,  theatre,  plants,  nature  and  quiet 
evenings  at  home.  Wishes  to  meet  sincere 
Oriental  for  long-term  relationship. 
Drawer  C303. 

I  AM  INTERESTED  in  meeting  young  guys 
under  26  in  Eastern  Ontario.  I  live  in  Toronto 
but  travel  to  Ottawa,  Montreal,  Kingston, 
Belleville,  Trenton,  etc.  W/M  30,  5'  10",  165 
lbs,  blond  hair,  blue  eyes,  athletic,  handsome, 
with  muscular  build.  Into  weight  lifting,  out- 
door sports,  music,  movies.  Interested  in  a  fun 
evening  in  the  East?  Contact  Doug,  Box  395, 
Station  J,  Toronto,  M4J  4Y8.  Discretion 
assured. 

WARMTH,  HUMOUR,  romance  returned 
for  same.  Reliable,  intelligent,  masculine,  26 
seeks  same  to  30.  Varying  interests  with  some 
discretion.  Care  to  chat?  Drawer  C294. 

Southern  Ontario 

W/M'S,  26,  32,  seek  friend(s)  for  friendship. 
Interests:  movies,  crafts,  music,  jocks. 
Discreet  male(s)  with  descriptive  letter,  photo, 

phone,  answered.  Drawer  C274. 

W/M,  6',  AGE  35, 160  lbs,  good-looking.  En- 
joy home  life,  music,  hiking,  canoeing, 
reading,  some  night  life.  Has  own  home. 
Looking  for  friends  in  the  area  or  possible 
roommate.   No  S/M   or  B/D.   Burlington- 

Oakville.  Drawer  C283. 

PROFESSIONAL  MALE,  38,  5'7",  130  lbs, 
straight  appearance,  tired  of  being  alone, 
seeks  friendship  with  slim  attractive  young 
male  under  25.  Prefer  shy  student  type.  I  am  a 
sincere  person,  gentle  and  sensitive.  Hobbies 
include  rock  music,  art,  tennis,  travel  and 
quiet  evenings  at  home.  Discretion  assured 
and  expected.  Photo  if  possible.  London  and 
surrounding  area.  Drawer  C289. 


Saskatchewan 


REGINA  MALE,  mid-40s,  warm,  sincere, 
offers  friendship  and  companionship  to  dis- 
creet  masculine  guys  21  to  35.  Drawer  C262. 


Toronto 


PROFESSIONAL  MALE,  43,  5'  10",  160, 
seeks  friends  35-50,  not  into  bars,  prefer 
theatre,  movies,  travel,  eating  out,  etc.  Discre- 
tion assured.  Phone  number  if  possible.  Box 
584,  Adelaide  St  PO,  Toronto  M5C  2J6. 
HANDSOME,  W/M,  25,  warm  /obliging, 
seeks  friendship  with  older  virile /dominant 
male.  Prefer  mature  professional /athlete. 
Discretion  assured.  Write  Box  133,  Station  Q, 

Toronto,  M4T  2M 1 . 

AVERAGE-LOOKING  guy,  40,  would  very 
much  like  to  develop  a  close,  good-natured, 
affectionate  relationship  with  a  mature  guy.  I 
love  the  outdoors  and  outdoor  activities  like 
canoeing,  swimming,  cycling,  backpacking, 
camping,  skiing,  etc,  and  all  the  finer  things  in 
life.  I  want  to  put  friendship  first,  sex  second. 
I'm  a  proud,  arrogant  guy.  Will  you  help  me  to 
lower  these  defences  and  learn  to  love?  Reply 
in  confidence  to  Box  290,  Station  M,  Toronto, 

M6S4T3. 

BI,  DARK,  MASCULINE  guy  28,  slim,  into 
jerking  off,  seeks  masculine  young  guys,  for 
man  to  man,  long  unhurried  sessions.  Into 
porno,  voyeurism,  exhibitionism,  french  front 
and  rear,  golden  showers.  Versatile.  Private 
apt.  Straights  welcome.  Drawer  C275. 


Not  into  labels? 

You  will  be  this  month! 

The  address  label  off  your  subscription 
copy  of  The  Body  Politic  is  like  a  $1.00 
cheque  made  out  to  you  —  use  it  to 
deduct  $1.00  off  the  cost  of  any 
classified  ad  you  place  with  us.  So  —  if 
you're  looking  for  a  place  to  stay,  or 
have  a  room  tor  rent,  or  want  to  find  a 
friend  or  just  wish  your  Uncle 
Gladstone  a  Happy  Pink  Triangle  Day: 
do  it  in  the  classifieds. 

And  save  yourself  a  dollar  —  in  the 
bargain. 


36rTHE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


WANTED,  MALES  who  like  to  search  and 
explore  fantasies.  Denim,  leather,  uniforms 
OK.  I,  6',  blond,  blue  eyes,  26,  180,  sexually 
passive,  pleasant,  easy-going.  Pastimes  music, 
quiet  times,  wine  and  people.  Dislike  bars, 
baths  and  insincere  people.  Drawer  C278. 

IF  YOU'RE  21-27,  slim,  quiet,  masculine  and 
reasonably  intelligent,  I'd  like  to  talk  with 
you.  I'm  35,  5'8",  140  lbs,  and  fairly  new  to 
Toronto.  I'm  looking  for  a  companion /lover 
who  enjoys  music,  conversation,  outdoors, 
etc.  We're  both  looking  for  a  special  relation- 

ship.  Drawer  C273. 

CAUCASIAN  MALE,  40s,  good-looking, 
unattached,  professionally  employed;  loves 
life  and  wants  to  share  the  good  things  with 

another  male.  Drawer  C272. 

MALE  NEW  TO  Toronto.  40s,  non-smoker. 
Interested  in  meeting,  learning  from,  and 
sharing  with  other  males  who  are  stable, 
energetic  and  masculine.  Drawer  C271. 

Recamment  reinstall^  a  Toronto  apres  7  ans  a 
Paris,  j'aimerais  rencontrer  des  jeunes 
quebecois  ou  francais  gais.  Sorties,  conversa- 
tions  et  si  entente. .  .qui  sait?  Drawer  C284. 

MALE  COUPLE,  twenties,  seek  others  and 
new  friends.  Not  into  stress,  just  pleasure.  Dis- 
cretion expected  and  assured.  Photo  and  letter 

please.  Drawer  C282. 

45-YR-OLD  MALE  seeks  one-to-one  rela- 
tionship. No  phonies.  Sincere  replies  only. 
Not  into  bars,  baths,  etc.  Looks  not  import- 
ant.  Very  honest  and  sincere.  Drawer  C280. 
W/M  30.  5'10",  165,  blond  hair,  blue  eyes, 
athletic,  handsome  with  a  muscular  build 
seeks  younger  guys  under  26  interested  in 
music,  movies,  dancing,  cycling,  canoeing, 
sports  and  weight-lifting.  I  am  a  mature, 
together  person  looking  for  a  special  person  to 
share  some  beautiful  times  together.  Discre- 
tion assured.  Write  Doug,  Box  395,  Station  J, 
Toronto,  M4J  4Y8. 

HANDSOME  WHITE  MALE,  26,  built 
solidly,  brown  hair,  brown  eyes,  5'9",  175  lbs, 
clean-shaven.  Likes  football,  baseball,  travell- 
ing, films  and  reading.  Seeks  partner  for 
friendship  and  gentle  sex.  Must  be  masculine, 
muscular  body-builder  type.  Photo  and  ad- 
dress appreciated.  Confidentiality  expected 
and  assured.  Drawer  C290. 


THE 

111(1 

i«  <  <   Main  street 
Winnipeo 


GENTLEMAN  WOULD  LIKE  to  make 
friends  with  Asian  young  man.  My  interests 
are  classical  music,  tennis,  good  conversation, 
etc.  If  you  are  looking  for  a  sincere,  consid- 
erate,   understanding,    loving    gentle    man, 

write  to  Drawer  C253. 

MALE  COUPLE,  late  30's,  scenically  located 
in  Kendal  Hills  area  between  Port  Hope  — 
Oshawa,  wants  to  meet  Oshawa  —  Toronto 
couples  for  socializing.  We  are  fun-loving  and 
would  like  to  meet  some  live-wires.  Drawer 

C285. 

DOMINANT  PROFESSIONAL  gentleman, 
6'5",  195  lbs,  youthful  50  years,  completely 
sincere  and  discreet,  seeks  relationship  with 
much  younger  passive  guy  who  enjoys  disci- 
pline and  firm  controls.  You  should  be  slim, 
obedient,  preferably  smooth,  and  anxious  to 
provide  good  oral  service.  Much  affection  and 
shared  good  times  offered  to  the  right  person. 
Drawer  C287. 

ARTIST,  33,  with  young  son,  non-smoker/ 
drinker.  Interests:  movies,  music,  New  York, 
love.  Needs  affection  fast!  Let's  experience 
life  together.  Would  appreciate  a  long  letter 
with  photo  (if  possible)  and  phone  number. 

Drawer  C288. 

WHITE,  professional  male,  seeks  same  aged 
30-40  for  a  stable  relationship.  Interests  in- 
clude: skiing,  cycling,  swimming,  movies, 
travelling,  and  sharing.  Please  include  phone 

number  with  reply.  Drawer  C291. 

BI-MALE,  34,  curious  about  kinky  sex.  Likes 
hairy  guys  (but  not  necessary),  would  get  off 
on  photo  and  phone  number.  Drawer  C220. 


GET  INTO  TBP/CLASSIFIEDS 

Welcome  to  TBP/CLASSIFIEDS  —  gay  people  out  to  meet  other  gay  people, 
right  across  Canada  and  beyond  our  borders  too. 
COST?  Just  25c  per  word,  minimum  charge  $5.00. 

SA  VE  IF  YOU  SUBSCRIBE!  Body  Politic  subscribers:  you  can  deduct  $1.00 
from  the  cost  of  your  ad  if  you  enclose  your  address  label. 

Business  ads  cost  more:  75c  per  word,  minimum  charge  $15.00,  or  call 
977-6320  for  reasonable  display  rates. 

CONDITIONS?  All  ads  should  be  fully  prepaid  by  cheque,  money  order  or 
charge  card,  and  mailed  to  arrive  before  deadline  advertised.  Late  ads  will  be 
held  over  for  the  following  issue,  unless  you  instruct  otherwise. 

We  cannot  accept  ads  over  the  telephone. 

If  you  do  not  wish  to  print  your  address  or  phone  number,  you  can  request  a 
drawer  number.  We  will  forward  replies  to  you  every  Thursday  in  a  plain 
envelope.  This  service  costs  $2.50  per  ad  per  issue. 

Replies  to  your  drawer  cannot  be  picked  up  at  our  office. 

Gay  sex  is  still  illegal  if  either  or  both  parties  are  under  21,  or  if  more  than  two 
oeople  are  involved,  regardless  of  their  ages.  Word  your  ad  accordingly.  We 
reserve  the  right  to  alter  or  refuse  any  ad. 

Remember,  too,  when  you  get  your  message  into  TBP/CLASSIFIEDS,  you  're 
reaching  other  people,  not  just  a  box  number.  So  it 's  smart  to  be  positive  about 
yourself  rather  than  insulting  to  others.  We  will  edit  out  phrases  like  "no 
blacks,  "  or  "no  fats  or  ferns. ' ' 


Postage  here 


Drawer 


TBP/CLASSIFIEDS 
P  0  Box  7289.  Sin  A 
Toronto.  ON  M5W  1X9 


ANSWERING  AN  AD?  No  charge  - 
just  put  your  reply  in  an  envelope  and 
address  it  as  in  the  diagram.  Be  sure 
the  drawer  number  is  on  the  outside  of 
the  envelope.  Office  staff  do  not  open 
any  mail  addressed  to  a  drawer. 

So:  get  in  touch  with  TBP/CLASSIFIEDS.  Write  one  word  per  box.  The 
amount  in  the  box  when  you  finish  is  the  basic  cost  of  your  ad.  And  what's  a 
word7  "A"  is  a  word  —  but  so  is  ' 'phantasmagorical. ' '  Height  and  weight 
references  are  one  word.  A  phone  number  is  one  word,  as  are  postal  codes  and 
apartment  numbers.  A  street  address  is  one  word  if  it  consists  of  number  and 
name  only  -  adding  east,  west,  north  or  south  makes  it  two  words. 

Mail  your  ad  along  with  your  payment  to  us  at:  TBP/CLASSIFIEDS.  Box 
7289,  StnA,  Toronto,  ON  M5W  1X9. 


CHINESE  MAN,  27,  sensual  and  attractive, 
seeks  cute,  cuddly,  fun-loving  Oriental  to 
"share  a  peach"  and  other  pleasures.  Drawer 

C292. 

DISCIPLINE!  School  and  military.  Expertly 
and  carefully  applied  by  handsome,  masculine 
male.  Safe  and  discreet.  Spankings  with  strap 
or  paddle.  Drawer  C293. 

GENTLEMEN  WANTED  by  exotic,  charm- 
ing, warm,  24-year-old  Indo- Asian  gentleman 
for  friendship.  Classy,  masculine,  romantic, 
honest,  same  age  bracket  preferred.  Welcome 
European  and  Asian  quality.  Send  photo  and 

phone  number.  Drawer  C295. 

ORIENTAL,  attractive,  27,  professional, 
seeks  "young  masculine  guys  under  35  for 
sincere  friendship.  Whites,  Orientals,  South 
Americans,  Blacks  welcome.  Phone  ap- 
preciated.  Box  1 13,  StnB,  Toronto,  M5T  2T3. 
I  AM  LOOKING  for  a  warm,  intelligent,  sen- 
sitive, attractive  young  man  for  a  lover.  I  am 
slim,  sensual,  warm,  hairy,  dark-complex- 
ioned, and  36  years  young.  I  like  sex,  people, 
affection,  rock,  occasional  dope,  swing,  old 
movies,  radio  and  disc-jockeying,  psychology, 
cooking,  cleaning,  nostalgia,  Star  Wars, 
nature  and  the  Rocky  Horror  Picture  Show.  I 
want  loving  from  a  man  and  am  willing  to  re- 
turn it.  Let's  see  if  we  would  like  to  spend  some 
time  with  each  other.  Drawer  C208. 

SUCCESSFUL  PROFESSIONAL,  35,  6'5", 
1 85  lbs,  seeking  friend  for  permanent  relation- 
ship. Must  be  employed  or  student.  Confiden- 
tiality  requested  and  assured.  Drawer  C209. 

ROM  ANTIC  STUDENT,  5' 1 1 ",  1 90  lbs,  sen- 
sitive and  sincere.  Very  inexperienced  and  will 
likely  require  much  patience,  won't  be  rushed. 
Interests  include  quiet  evenings  as  well  as  some 
nights  out.  Looking  for  sincere,  romantic 
masculine  man  looking  for  more  than  a  one- 
night  stand.  Will  answer  all.  Drawer  C221. 
ORIENTAL  MALE,  30,  5'8",  150  lbs,  con- 
sidered attractive.  I  am  religious,  warm,  car- 
ing and  sensitive,  with  a  need  for  emotional  in- 
timacy. Seek  friends  with  similar  qualities  and 
needs.  Drawer  C240. 

GENTLEMAN  S,  40-65,  sought  by  masculine 
male,  28.  Am  well-educated,  bi,  very  straight- 
appearing,  nice  looks  and  body,  good  charac- 
ter, many  interests.  You  should  be  conserva- 


tive, masculine,  uninhibited  but  sensible,  in- 
terested in  psychological-verbal  control  as  well 
as  physical.  Marrieds,  bi's,  travellers  wel- 
come. Am  very  discreet,  prefer  same.  Perma- 
nent  relationship  very  possible.  Drawer  C239. 
WANTED:  Masculine  guy(s)  for  3rd  hand  at 
checkers.  We  are:  white,  21-35,  moustache,  no 
beards,  5'8",  well-built,  good-looking.  You 
are  same.  Photo  appreciated.  Drawer  C270. 
AFFECTIONATE,  ATHLETIC,  bearded, 
masculine,  well-hung,  white,  33,  seeks 
friend(s)  21-35  (blacks  welcome).  Let- 
ter/photo to  Box  7303,  Stn  A,  Toronto 
M5W  1X9. 

MASCULINE,  ATHLETIC,  very  good- 
looking  gay  white  male,  young,  6  ft,  175  lbs, 
straight-looking,  head  together.  Wanting  to 
locate  similar  for  sincere  friends  in  downtown 
Toronto,  since  I  am  moving  there  in  July  1981 . 
Seeking  lover  also.  Also  would  like  to  locate 
friend(s)  from  Saskatoon  to  move  with.  Will 
answer  all.  Reply  to:  PO  Box  7155,  Saska- 
toon, SaskS7K4Jl. 


Tired  of  bars? 

Are  you  an  intelligent  gay  man  or 
woman  who  would  like  to  meet 
other  intelligent  people?  Are  you 
looking  for  a  new  relationship,  a 
lover,  friends  or  roommates? 
Hundreds  and  hundreds  of  our 
members  would  like  to  get  to 
know  you. 

Serving  Toronto  —  Ontario  —  all 
areas  of  Canada,  most  areas  of 
the  United  States  —  and  world- 
wide. Call: 

CONTACT 

(212)232-5500 

Monday  through  Friday 
1  p.m.  to  8  p.m. 


$5 

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IS 

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>.'•  00 

Cost  of  ad(  )  times  number  (  )  ol  runs 

Drawer  number  required  ($2.50  per  ad  per  issue) 
Subscriber'?  Enclose  address  label  and  deduct  SI  00 


I  would  like  to  subscribe  now 
and  still  deduct  $1  00'  (Check  one  at 
right,  add  subscription  cost,  and 
deduct  $  I  on  line  above  ) 


Canada  First  Class 
Canadian  Regular 
International  First  Class 
International  Regular 


$ 

$ 

-S 

$20  00 
$10  00 
$25  00 
$12  50 


T0TAI 


DEADLINE  FOR  THE  APRIL  ISSUE:  5  PM.  FRIDAY.  MARCH  13 


MMl 


ADDRtSS 


Cheque/money  order  enclosed 
Charge  my     Visa      Mastercharge 


CITY 


PROVINCf 


coot 


Card  number 
late   . 


I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
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I 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 


Clipthis  torm  and  mail  it  with  payment  to  TBP/CLASSIFIEDS.  Box  7289  StnA   TorontoMbW  1X9 


MARCH  1981 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/37 


MALE,  25,  5'6",  120  lbs,  seeks  same  under  30 
for  relationship.  Phone  and  photo  appreciat- 

ed.  Drawer  C252. 

W/M,  29, 5'6",  148  lbs,  brown  hair,  blue  eyes, 
attractive.  Interests:  music,  art,  long  talks  and 
walks,  live  theatre.  Would  like  to  meet  new 
friends,  22  to  28.  Honesty  important.  Not  into 
S/M,  B/D  or  baths.  Photo  and  phone  please. 

Drawer  C298. 

TO  MISQUOTE  an  ancient  pope:  "He  who  is 
tired  of  bars  is  tired  of  life,  but  one  cannot  live 
by  bars  alone."  Deeply  interested  in  the  arts,  I 
am  a  tall,  trim,  sensual  Taurus  who  knows  his 
body  can  give  pleasure.  Well-kept  and  past  my 
mid-life  crisis,  I  am  looking  for  deeper  rela- 
tionships with  vivid  persons  who,  in  the  words 
of  the  poet:  "Wear  at  their  hearts  the  fire's 
centre /Never  to  deny  its  pleasure  in  the  morn- 
ing simple  light  /  Nor  its  grave  evening  demand 
for  love."  Write  if  you  have  something  to 
share  or  mystery  to  explore.  Every  reply  gets 

my  answer.  Drawer  C299. 

INTERESTED  IN  a  serious  relationship  with 
an  independent  white  male,  physically  fit,  who 
enjoys  swimming,  cycling,  travelling,  reading 
and  movies?  Would  like  to  hear  from  men 
25-30.  Please  reply  including  phone  number. 
Drawer  C297. 

MASCULINE,  5'10",  37,  165,  brown,  short- 
trimmed  hair  and  beard,  hairy  body.  Domin- 
ant B/D  novice.  Requires  younger,  muscular, 
passive  guy  into  fantasy  and  role-playing.  No 
S/M.  Photo  and  detailed  letter  to  Drawer 
C227. 


GENTLEMAN  in  mid-fifties  has  one  bed- 
room apartment  downtown  to  share.  Central 
location.  Reasonable  rent.  From  March  1/81. 
964-6864. 

ST  CLAIR/ YONGE.  Professionally  reno- 
vated, semi-detached,  two-bedroom  house, 
4-piece  bath,  dressing  room  with  vanity,  extra 
room  with  2-piece  bath  in  basement.  Fire- 
place, 2-car  parking,  broadloomed,  insulated, 
compact.    $135,000.    Call    961-4444,    Casey 

Gray. 

LARGE,  10-ROOM  (5-bedroom)  Cabbage- 
town  house  for  rent  or  sale.  Phone  961-4161. 

DUNDAS  &  BROADVIEW!  House  with  6 
kitchens.  3  bachelors,  3  1 -bedrooms.  Solid 
brick  with  Victorian  front.  Excellent  financ- 
ing! 6  stoves,  6  fridges.  Asking  $87,500.  Call  J 
Temple,  Golden  Key  Rlty,  690-7771. 


mm? 


ELEVATED  PORN  Crow  Ink  Inc,  Box  1384 
Boston,  MA  02104. 


mmm 


HOMES 


Toronto 


STUDENT  looking  for  central,  inexpensive, 
hopefully  self-contained  accommodation.  134 
Carlton  St,  Apt  9,  Toronto,  Ont  M5A  2K1, 
921-6820. 

WRITER  /PHOTOGRAPHER  needs  large 
private  downtown  apartment.  Dependable. 
Ideal  tenant.  I  can't  afford  much  rent,  but  if 
you  can't  afford  problems  with  tenants  — you 
need  me.  Phone  967-0181  and  ask  for  Burke. 
(PS  Would  not  object  to  fixing  up  large,  un- 
utilized  space  in  exchange  for  low  rent). 
MIDDLE-AGE  MALE  wishes  to  share  his 
two-bedroom  furnished  apartment  with 
young  male.  Rent  negotiable.  Drawer  C302 


RICHARD.  Shouldn't  we  recognize  and  mark 
some  kind  of  anniversary?  One  year  for  the  of- 
fer I  couldn't  understand  and  eight  for  the 
singing  of  the  Hermit  Songs  in  the  improbable 
Library.  There  are  some  things  still  to  be  said 
and  silence  in  this  case  is  not  golden.  Pangur. 

STAMP  COLLECTORS:  are  you  aware  of 
any  gays  who  may  be  depicted  on  Canadian 
stamps?  Write:  Paul  Hennefeld,  54  Overlook 
Road,  Upper  Montclair,  New  Jersey  07043. 

MAN /BOY  LOVE  ASSOCIATION.  Educa- 
tional, legal,  political,  support  group  for 
adult-vouth  relationships.  For  information 
write:NAMBLA,  PO  Box  174-K,  NY,  NY  10018. 

FREE  AD  TO  GAYS.  30  words.  R.W.  Box 

702,  Verdun,  Que. 

DON'T  BE  THE  LAST  ON  YOUR  BLOCK! 
We  have  received  hundreds  of  responses  to  our 
survey /interview  in  the  last  issue  of  TBP.  And 
we'd  like  to  receive  hundreds  more.  If  you 
haven't  done  so  already,  get  out  your  pen  and 
tell  us  a  few  things  about  ourselves.  And  about 

you.  But  do  it  today! 

GARY  MY  FRIEND.  I  don't  have  a  cliche  to 
soothe  you  and  Miguel.  But  I  love  your  latest, 
it  will  set  records.  Love,  Gerald. 


Making  Waves: 

an  Atlantic  quarterly 
for  Lesbians  and  Gay  men 

A  new  publication  from  Halifax  featuring  news, 
analysis,  short  fiction,  poetry,  cartoons  and  humour. 

Each  issue  will  contain  50%  lesbian  content. 

The  magazine  for  Mari  timers  who  don't  necessarily 
live  in  the  Maritimes. 


Subscriptions:  $4.00  for  4  issues  (1  year). 

Send  cheque  or  money  order  to:  Making  Waves,  6257  Lawrence  St, 

Halifax,  NS  B3L  1J8. 


Spacious  bedrooms,  all  with  private 
bath  oV  A.C.  Large  secluded  tropical 
pool  *  sundeck.  For  brochure  *  travel 
inlo  call  your  hosts  Kees  &  Terry. 

820 T  WHITE  STREET,  KEY  WEST 
FLORCA  33040,  (305)  294-3146 


Executive 
Electronic 


534-9796 

or960-9182 


Stereo  •TV*  Alarm  •  Intercom 
Sales  and  Service 
10%  gay  discount 


KEY  WEST 


For  oar  now  free  directory  and  map: 
Call  toll  Tree  1-800-327-9191  est.  499 
In  Florida  1-800-432-7999  est.  499 

or  write:  Key  West  Business  Cuild, 
P.O.  Box  1208,  Key  West,  FL  33040 


The  island  for  all  seasons 


Massage  Therapy 
Treatments 

for  relaxation  and  awareness 


Tension  is  a  way  of  life  in  our  culture  and 

leads  to  a  variety  of  stress-related 

problems,  including  headache,  lower 

back  pain,  fatigue,  stiff  neck  and 

insomnia. 

Therapeutic  massage  relieve?  anxiety  and 

helps  to  prevent  stress-based  illnesses. 

Treatments  are  pleasurable  and  result  in  a 

feeling  of  well-being  and  increased 

energy. 

For  more  information  or  an  appointment, 

contact  Richard  Lacroix,  R.M.T.,  at 

967-9195. 


University  of  Toronto  Gay  Awareness  Week 
February  23-28, 1981 


Monday 
GAY 

PRIDE! 


TAiesday 
GAY 

ANGER! 


Wednesday 
GAY 

POLITICS! 


Thursday 
GAY 

CULTURE! 


Friday 
GAY 

FILMS! 


Saturday 
GAY 

DANCE! 


Sponsored  h>:  <i;i>s  ;il  the  I  ni\ersil>  of  Toronto;  Gay  Academic  Union;  (Jay*  at  OIKK;  llomophilcs  of 
Trinity;  Sludenl  Christian  Movement;  (he  Women's  Studies  Sludenl  Union;  and  SAC. 


Men's  and  women's  fashion- 
clothing  up  to  50%  off 
Men's  and  women's  Toucci pants 
M-One  pants  and  tops 
Dresses  by  Joseph  Ribkoff 
Pins,  belts  and  accessories 


461  Parliament  St,  Timmto  M5A  3A3  .  928-9612 


THE  KEY  CLAN 


Canada's  Leading 
Swinger's  Club 

for  adult  couples  and 

singles  everywhere. 

Established  1967. 

Sample  magazine  $3.00. 

Details  free. 

The  Key,  Room  19, 
PO  Box  68,  Station  L, 
Toronto,  ON  M6E  4Y4 


38/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


A  special  message  to  our 
classified  advertisers. 

You  will  notice  that  our  classified  adver- 
tising rates  have  increased  this  month 
—  by  an  average  of  25%.  We  had  kept 
rates  the  same  since  1978,  but  costs 
have  increased  many  times  since  then, 
and  forced  our  rate  increase. 

We  have  tried  to  keep  our  rates  low, 
because  we  realize  many  people  feel 
their  situation  requires  they  meet  other 
gay  people  in  as  discreet  a  manner  as 
possible  -  and  TBP/CLASSIFIEDS 
can  help  serve  that  need. 

Starting  this  month,  one  way  to 
lower  the  cost  of  your  ad  is  to  become  a 
TBP  subscriber.  If  you  decide  to  start  a 
subscription,  you  can  deduct  $1.00 
from  the  cost  of  any  ad  you  place  (offer 
does  not  apply  to  business 
advertisers). 

Each  issue  of  TBP  will  be  mailed  to 
you  in  the  same  kind  of  discreet,  plain 
envelope  in  which  your  classified 
responses  are  mailed.  And  no  other  in- 
dividual or  organization  gets  to  see  our 
mailing  list. 

You  can  help  support  us,  and  save 
yourself  some  money  in  the  bargain. 
Subscribe  today! 


GEEJEUSS 


A  NOTE  TO  PRISONERS  who  wish  to  have 
pen  pals  —  Metropolitan  Community  Church 
is  offering  a  pen-pal  service  to  men  and  women 
prisoners  through  the  church's  prison  minis- 
try. The  address  is  Prison  Ministry,  730 
Bathurst  St,  Toronto  MSS  2R4. 

Well,  I'm  in  need  of  friendship  too!  My  name 
is  Walter  Jerome  Ernest  Young  III.  I'm  an 
American-born  Black  man  of  Korean  descent. 
DOB  1-13-47,  5'10",  180  lbs.  Free-lance 
photographer.  My  interests  are:  theosophy, 
audiophile,  tennis,  driving  and  travelling.  Will 
answer  all  letters,  esp  with  photo.  Walter 
Jerome  Ernest  Young  III,  No  155-108,  Box 
45699,  Lucasville,  OH  45699. 

I  HAVE  BEEN  incarcerated  in  the  Southern 
Ohio  Correctional  Facility  in  Lucasville,  Ohio 
since  1972.  I  am  29  years  old  and  a  first-time 
offender.  My  environment  is  cold  and  I  am  in 
serious  need  of  correspondence  with  the  out- 
side world.  Write:  Mr  Jonathan  Prunty,  No 
136-288,  PO  Box  45699,  Lucasville,  OH 
45699. 

HONEST  AND  LOVING  male,  42,  wants 
authentic  males  as  pen  friends,  especially  in- 
mates and  shut-ins.  Into  music,  photography, 
writing,  travel,  quiet  times,  brunch,  concerts, 
etc.  Photo  and/or  phone  no.  not  requested. 
Ernest  Dupont,  1 1 1 B  Jefferson  Ave,  Toronto, 
ON  M6K3E4  Canada. 

PRISONER,  31,  incarcerated  7  1/2  years.  1 
have  no  family,  and  all  my  friends  have 
deserted  me.  I  would  like  correspondence  with 
sincere  people  who  would  be  interested  in 
helping  to  remove  the  loneliness  I've  been  ex- 
periencing. Ervin  L  Green,  Box  45699, 
No.  139-608,  Lucasville,  Ohio  45699,  USA 


LOCKER  ROOM  •  BANG 
RUSH  •  HARDWARE 

$4  EACH  (5  for$15) 

WE  WILL  NOT  BE  UNDERSOLD 

RLS  Management 

66  Gerrard  Street  East 

Toronto,  ON  M5B  1G5 

Ontario  residents  add  5%  sales  tax 

Wholesale  inquiries  invited 

(416)977-4718 


I'M  31  YEARS  OLD,  black  hair,  brown  eyes, 
5'8",  133  lbs.  I'm  very  lonely  and  want  very 
much  to  meet  new  friends  to  correspond  with 
—  please.  I'm  not  seeking  pity  as  I  am  guilty  of 
my  charge  and  deserve  the  20  years  that  I 
received.  I'm  not  a  mean  person.  I  just  made  a 
terrible  mistake  and  am  paying  for  it  dearly. 
Jerry  Roseberry,  No  4096,  Michigan  City 
State  Prison. 


ESMS 


Toronto 


FROZEN?  Warm  up  to  a  full  body  massage. 
Well-trained  hands,  competitively  priced.  Bill 

Berinati,  967-9195. 

SORE?  STIFF?  TIRED?  Tense?  Aches  and 

pains?  Call  Chris,  485-1290. 

OPENLY  GAY  psychotherapist.  Individ- 
ual/couple counselling,  also  sexual  dysfunc- 
tion counselling.  Confidence  guaranteed. 
Eugene  Allen  Schoentag,  524  Bathurst. 
967-0272. 


National 


TORONTO  address  for  your  private  mail. 
Discreet,  confidential.  Mailbox /forwarding. 
Low  rates.  TORCAN  Remail  Services,  Box 
531,  Station  Q,  Toronto,  Ont,  M4T  2N4. 


International 


CONTACT  OTHER  open  minded  gay /bisex- 
ual women  quickly  and  inexpensively  through 
new  monthly  exclusive  personal  ad  listings  in 
Pandora's  Box.  Write:  A  Matter  of  Pre- 
ference, Suite  207,  420  S  Beverly  Drive,  Bever- 
ly Hills,  CA  90212. 


TRAVEL 


HOLIDAY  ECONOMICALLY  in  London, 
England.  Self-catering  holiday  flatlets,  twin- 
bedded,  separate  kitchen,  located  inner  Lon- 
don from  $48  (Can)  per  person  per  week. 
Write:  Michael  Browning,  19  Grosvenor  Rd, 

Chiswick,  London  W44EQ. 

SUNNY  FORT  LAUDERDALE  apartments. 
Efficiencies,  rooms,  sparkling  pool  near 
beach.  Write  or  call  for  brochure  and  rates: 
Saltaire,   2831    Vistamar,   Fort   Lauderdale, 

FLA  33304,  (305)  566-1689. 

KEY  WEST'S  OASIS  GUESTHOUSE.  Share 
our  accommodations  of  style  and  comfort... a 
variety  of  guest  rooms  with  private  baths  and 
kitchenettes.  Sun-decks,  swimming  pool  and 
hot  tub.  823  Fleming  Street,  Key  West,  Florida 

33040(305)296-2131. 

LONDON,  UK.  Largest  Gay  Hotel:  The 
Philbeach,  30  Philbeach  Gardens  (Earls- 
Court)  SW5.  Close  clubs,  bars.  Groups 
welcome.  Discount  available  373-1244. 


COSMETICIAN,  experienced  in  retail,  for 
busy  Bloor  Street  boutique.  Salary  and 
benefits  commensurate  with  ability.  Full  time. 

Drawer  C276. 

WANTED:  Bloor/Spadina  area.  Occasional 
houseman,  typist,  filing  clerk,  cook's  helper, 
chores,  errands.  Artsman  preferred.  Ethnicity 
inconsequential.  Intelligent,  good  ap- 
pearance, good  relaxed  personality,  fluent 
English.  Minimum  wage  plus  meals.  For  older 
retired  academic,  healthy,  versatile,  adapt- 
able. Drawer  C296. 


OTHER 


Investment  Funds 


INVESTOR  has  funds  available  to  be  used  for 
a  gay  cause.  Please  submit  ideas  to  David,  PO 
Box  543 1 ,  Stn  A,  Toronto.      


Gay  Groups 


THE  CARING  HOMOSEXUALS  Associa- 
tion or  North  Bay  (CHANBY)  is  having 
regular  weekly  meetings.  For  information  etc 
write:  PO  BOX  649,  Callander,  Ont,  or  phone 
(71)?)  472-0909,  asking  lor  (  ate,  

(  ( >IN  AND  STAMP  COLLEt  lORS  -  I 
want  to  start  a  gay  hobby  group.  Toronto 
meetings  and  world  wide  correspondence, 
Write  Box  5302,  Station   \.   [bronto,  Ont, 

\|s\\    IV. 


IDEAS 


art  noi    \  <  I  u  <  '  >NSl  mi  R  '  fcre  you 
getting  whai  you  want?  li  yes,  oi  it  noi  do  you 
want  to  t.iik  about  gaj  consumerism 
business,  ga\  taxes?  We  warn  to  form  ■>  group 
on  consumerism  and  g.ns    ii   you're  in 
terested,  write  Drawer  t  XX) 


MARCH  1981 


The  signficance  of  bodily  germs  and  secretions  to  disease 
transmission  through  food  and  water  pollution  and  public  sanitation 
is  well  recognized,  whereas  — 

The  signficance  of  bodily  germs  and  secretions  to  disease 
transmission  through  sex  contact  unfortunately  has  not  been  taught 
to  the  public. 

Almost  100  years  after  universal  acceptance  of  the  germ  theory  of 
disease,  it  is  appalling  that  every  male  and  female  is  still  not  being 
taught  the  responsibility  to  wash  genital  and  rectal  areas  before  and 
after  sex  contact,  eliminating  those  acquired  and  one's  own  germs 
and  secretions,  in  protection  of  one's  own  health  and  that  of  one  s  sex 
partner. 

An  important  health  factor  is  remembering  the  lower  digestive 
tract  as  a  source  of  infectious  germs  including  those  which  may 
cause  urethritis  in  the  male  and  vaginitis  in  the  female.  Here  are  some 
highlights  from  our  widely  acclaimed  booklet  (Available  in  English 
and  in  Spanish;  soon  in  French.)  — 

THE  NEW 

VENEREAL  DISEASE  PREVENTION 

FOR  EVERYONE 

PAGE  2:  PERSONAL  HYGIENE  ■  WASHING 
THE  SEXUALLY  ACTIVE  MALE 

Careful  washing  after  sex  contact  will  reduce  the  possibility  of 
catching  VD.  The  germs  that  cause  syphilis  and  gonorrhea,  as  well  as 
some  other  sexually  transmitted  diseases,  are  sensitive  to  soap  and 
water. 

WASH  BEFORE  SEX  CONTACT 
FOR  HYGIENIC  PURPOSES 

IMMEDIATELY  AFTER  INTERCOURSE: 

Soap    genitals    working     a     bit    of    soft    mushy    soap     into 

urinary  opening. 
Rinse. 

Repeat  procedure. 
Then  urinate  (which  may  sting). 

Extended  exposure  or  delay  before  washing  diminishes  the  effec- 
tiveness of  this  preventive  measure.  Washing  is  doubly  important 
since  even  in  the  absence  of  syphilis  and  gonorrhea,  other  sexually 
transmitted  germs  can  cause  infections  such  as  NGU  (non- 
gonococcal urethritis)  or  NSU  (non-specific  urethritis). 

If  lubricants  are  involved  in  the  sex  act,  use  watersoluble  prepara- 
tions that  will  wash  away.  Do  not  use  an  oil  base  that  will  leave  a  film 
to  trap  the  germs. 

NOTE:  The  foreskin  that  covers  the  head  of  the  penis  may  trap 
germs  which  can  cause  infections.  Therefore,  special  attention 
should  be  given  to  washing  the  uncircumcised  penis. 

When  vaccines  against  gonorrhea  and  syphilis  will  have  been 
developed,  personal  hygiene  will  remain  necessary  to  prevent  other 
sexually  transmitted  diseases.  For  example:  A  gonorrhea  vaccine  will 
not  prevent  approximately  half  of  the  reported  cases  of  male  urethritis 
which  are  not  gonorrhea. 

PAGE  3:  SOME  ASPECTS  OF  PERSONAL  HYGIENE  AND 

DISEASE  PREVENTION  FOR  MALE  AND  FEMALE 

Infectious  germs  which  are  always  found  in  the  lower  digestive 
tract  may  be  transmitted  from  the  rectum  during  sex  activities.  Among 
the  dangerous  germs  present  may  be  the  virus  which  causes 
hepatitis,  and  parasites  which  cause  gastrointestinal  disorders  if 
they  enter  the  mouth  (anal-oral  route). 

The  male  and  female  mucous  membranes  (especially  those  of  the 
genitourinary  system)  are  highly  susceptible  to  infection  by  some  of 
these  germs  from  the  rectum,  which  may  cause  urethritis  in  the  male 
and  vaginitis  in  the  female.  For  example:  as  a  result  of  careless  wiping 
from  rectum  toward  vagina  by  the  female  after  toilet,  germs  are  easily 
spread  to  the  vagina  where  they  may  cause  infections,  and  from  which 
they  may  be  transmitted  during  vaginal  as  well  as  rectal  intercourse. 
Therefore,  females  must  not  wipe  in  the  direction  of  rectum  to  vagina  . 

Personal  hygiene  before  and  after  sex  contact  can  be  greatly  aid- 
ed by  the  bidet,  a  low  bathroom  fixture,  designed  to  facilitate  washing 
for  disease  prevention  and  proper  cleansing  after  toilet.  Not  everyone, 
unfortunately,  has  been  adequately  informed  as  to  the  advantages  of 
the  bidet.  It  is  not  found,  for  instance,  in  homes  or  hotels  in  the  United 
States,  whereas  in  many  parts  of  the  world  it  is  widely  used  and 
significant  to  personal  hygiene.  Good  hygiene  requires  careful 
washing  of  genital  and  rectal  areas  before  and  after  sex  activities. 

Men  and  Women:  Learn  also  about— 

The  significance  during  treatment  of  no  sex  contact  which  may 
spread  the  disease,  and  particularly  during  treatment  for  urethritis,  no 
alcohol  which  may  irritate  the  GU  system,  delaying  cure.  The  impor- 
tance of  a  follow-up  visit  to  the  physician  to  see  if  further  treatment  is 
required.  For  the  sexually  active  male  only  —  the  germicidal 

preparation  (Sanitube'  )  for  use  after  intercourse  to  prevent  go  ior- 
rhea  and  syphilis,  available  in  U.S.A.  from  certain  pharmacists  or 
Sanitube  Co.,  Mt.  Kisco,  NY.  10549. 

For  the  sexually  active  female  —  certain  commercially  available 
vaginal  contraceptive  foams,  creams,  suppositories  and  jellies,  which 
also  have  germicidal  properties  that  may  prevent  VD. 

Send  your  contribution  (tax  deductible  to  U.S.  citizens  only)  for  a  copy 
(quantities  available.)  Help  us  educate  the  public. 

AMERICAN  FOUNDATION  FOR  THE 

PREVENTION  OF  VD,  INC. 

335  BROADWAY 

NEW  YORK, NY   10013 


THE  BODY  POLITIC/39 


The  Community  Page  is  a  listing  of  lesbian  and  gay 
groups  in  Canada  and  Quebec  which  primarily  direct 
themselves  toward  alleviating  or  struggling  against 
gay  oppression.  It  includes:  democratically  con- 
stituted organizations,  cooperatively  run  clubs  and 
community  centres,  bookstores  which  sell  gay  and 
feminist  literature,  and  non-profit  gay  periodicals. 

Organizations  wishing  a  listing,  or  a  revision  of  in- 
formation presently  listed,  should  contact:  The  Body 
Politic  Community  Page,  Box  7289,  Station  A, 
Toronto,  ON  MS  W  1X9. 


ALBERTA 


Calgary 

□  Camp  181  (a  social  club  for  women  and  men), 
c/o  Eleanor,  no  3,  231 1-17A  St  SW,  T2T  2S4. 
Ph:  (403)  245-2336. 

□  Dignity  /Calgary,  Box  1492,  Stn  T,  T2H  2H7. 
Ph:  (403)  269-7542  or  282-0574  (evenings  only). 

□  Gay  Academic  Union,  Student  Clubs,  MacEwan 
Hall,  Univ  of  Calgary,  T2N  1N4. 

□  Gay  Information  and  Resources  Calgary  (GIRO, 
Old  Y  Bldg,  Suites  317-323,  223  12  Ave  SW, 
T2P  0G9.  Ph:  (403)  264-391 1 .  Information  and 
counselling  Mon-Fri,  7-10  pm.  Socials,  discussion 
groups,  newspaper,  gay  rights  action.  Mailing 
address:  Box  2715,  Stn  M,  T2P  3C1. 

GGay  Youth  Calgary,  Box  1133,  Stn  M,  T2P  2K9. 
Meets  Thurs,  8  pm,  Rm  319,  223  12  Ave  SW. 

□  Integrity:  Gay  Anglicans  and  their  friends,  c/o 
Box  1492,  Stn  T,  T2H  2H7. 

□  Lesbian  Friendship,  Box  6093,  Stn  A.  Ph:  (403) 
238-0140, evenings. 

□  Metropolitan  Community  Church,  Box  6945, 
Stn  D,  T2P  2G2.  Ph:  (403)  277-4004.  Services 
Sundays  at  1 1 :  30  am  at  Backlot  Theatre. 

□  Parents  of  Gays  and  Lesbians,  c/o  GIRC, 

Box  2715,  Stn  M,  T2P  3C1.  Ph:  (403)  252-8727. 
..Womyn's  Collective,  c/o  GIRC,  Box  2715, 
Stn  M,  T2P  3C1.  Ph:  (403)  267-3098. 

Edmonton 

□  Dignity  Edmonton,  Box  53,  T5J  2G9. 

□  Gay  Alliance  Toward  Equality  (GATE), 

Box  1852,  T5J  2P2.  Office:  10173-104  St.  Ph: 
(403)424-8361. 
"Metropolitan  Community  Church,  Box  1312, 
T5J  2M8.  Ph:  (403)  482-4213. 

Lethbridge 

ZLethbridge  Gay  Community  Centre,  c/o  GIRC, 
Box  2715,  Stn  M,  Calgary,  AB  T2P  3C1 

Medicine  Hat 

□  Medicine  Hat  Gay  Community  Centre,  c/o 
GIRC,  Box  2715,  Stn  M,  Calgary,  AB  T2P  3C1. 

Red  Deer 

□  Gay  Association  of  Red  Deer  (GARD),  Box  356, 
T4N  5E9. 

BriHlSHCO^ 

Kamloops 

□  The  gay  group  in  this  city  can  be  contacted  by 
writing  to  Box  3343,  Kamloops  V2C  6B9.  Meet 
friends,  peer  counselling,  information. 

Nelson 

□  The  gay  group  here  can  be  contacted  by  writing: 
Woodland,  Box  326,  Nelson,  V1L  5R2. 

Prince  George 

□  The  gay  group  in  this  city  can  be  contacted 
through  the  Prince  George  Crisis  Centre, 
1306-7th  Ave,  V2L  3P1.  Ph:  (604)  563-1214. 

Prince  Rupert 

□  The  gay  group  in  this  city  can  be  reached  by 
writing  to  Box  881,  V8J  3Y1. 

Revelstoke 

□  Lothlorien,  Box  2054,  V0E  2S0.  Information, 
hospitality,  counselling. 

Vancouver 

□  Archives  Collective,  Box  3130,  MPO,  V6B  3X6. 
Coming  Out  (Gay  Radio),  c/o  Vancouver 
Cooperative  Radio,  337  Carrall  St,  V6B  2J4. 
Thurs  at  6:30  pm,  102.7  MHz  FM. 

Dignit\   Vancouver,  Box  3016,  V6B  3X5.  Ph: 
(604)  524-1657. 

fiayblevision,  monthly  television  show  produced 
by  and  for  gays,  837  Bidwell  St.  Ph:  (604) 
688-6813. 

Gay  People  of  Simon  Eraser,  c/o  Student  So- 
ciety, Simon  Fraser  University,  Burnaby 
V5A  1S6.  Ph:  (604)  291-3181  or  291-31 11. 
Gay  People  of  UBC,  Box  9,  Student  Union  Bldg, 
University  of  British  Columbia,  V6T  IW5.  Ph: 
(604)  228-6781  or  228-4638.  Meetings  every  Thurs 
at  12:30  pm  in  SUB  207/209. 

ZHachug,  Jewish  gay  group.  Box  69406, 
V5K  4W6. 

[  'Integrity:  Gay  Anglicans  and  their  friends,  Box 
34161,  Stn.  D,  V6J  4N1.  Ph:  (604)732-0412. 

Z  Lesbian  and  Gay  Health  Sciences  Association, 
c/o  Gay  People  of  UBC,  Box  9,  Student  Union 
Bldg,  UBC,  V6T  1W5. 

The  Lesbian  Show,  Co-op  Radio,  337  Carrall  St, 
V6B  2J4.  102.7  MHz  FM,  Thurs  at  7:30  pm. 

□  Metropolitan  Community  Church,  Box  5178, 
V6B  4B2.  Ph.  (604)681-8525.  Services  8  pm 
Sundays,  at  181 1  West  16th  Ave. 

□  SEARCH  Community  Services,  24-448  Seymour 
St,  V6B  3H1.  Ph:  (604)689-1039. 

□  SEARCH  Youth  Group,  c/o  SEARCH,  24-448 
Seymour  St,  V6B3H1. 

□  Society  for  Education,  Action,  Research  and 
Counselling  in  Homosexuality  (SEARCH), 


CommunityPage 


Box  48903,  Bentall  Centre,  V7X  1A8. 

□  Society  for  Political  Action  for  Gay  People 
(SPAG),  Box  2631,  Main  PO,  V6B  3W8.  Ph: 
(604)  876-2674. 

□  Vancouver  Gay  Community  Centre  (VGCC), 
Box  2259,  MPO,  V6B  3W2.  Ph:  (604)  253-1258. 

Victoria 

□  Feminist  Lesbian  Action  Group  (FLAG),  Box 

237,  Stn.  E,  V8W  2M6. 

□  Gay  Men's  Discussion  Group,  meets  twice  a 
month.  Call  Need  for  time  and  place. 

□  Need  (Victoria  Crisis  Line),  Ph:  (604)  383-6323, 
24  hrs  a  day.  Some  gay  info  available. 

□  University  of  Victoria  Gay  Focus,  Student  Union 
Bldg,  U  of  Victoria,  Box  1700,  V8W  2Y2. 

□  WAVES,  Rights  of  Lesbians  Subcommittee,  Box 
237,  Stn  E,  V8W  2M6. 


MANITOBA 


Brandon 

□  Gay  Friends  of  Brandon,  Box  492,  R7A  5Z4.  Ph: 
(204)  725-4386. 

Winnipeg 

□  Bethany:  Families  of  Gays,  Box  27,  UMSU,  Univ 
of  Manitoba,  R3T  2N2.  Ph:  (204)  743-4549. 

□  Council  on  Homosexuality  and  Religion,  Box 
1912,  R3C3R2. 

□  Dignity/ Winnipeg,  Box  1912,  R3C  3R2. 

□  Gays  for  Equality,  Box  27,  UMSU,  Univ  of 
Manitoba,  R3T  2N2.  Ph:  (204)  269-8678. 

□  Manitoba  Physicians  for  Homosexual  Under- 
standing, Box  391 1,  Stn  B,  R2W  5H9. 

□  Project  Lambda,  Inc,  gay  community  services, 
Box  3911,  Stn  B.R2W5H9. 

□  Winnipeg  Gay  Youth,  Box  27,  UMSU,  Univ  of 
Manitoba,  R3T  2N2.  Ph:  (204)  269-8678. 

□  Winnipeg  Lesbian  Society,  730  Alexander  St.  Ph: 
(204)786-4581. 


NEW  BRUNSWICK 

Fredericton 

□  Fredericton  Lesbians  and  Gays  (FLAG),  Box 
1556,  Stn  A.  Ph:  (506)  472-9576. 

Western  NB 

□  Northern  Lambda  Nord,  Box  990,  Caribou, 
Maine  04736  USA.  Serving  Western  NB  and 
Northern  Maine  (Madawaska/ Victoria,  NB, 
Temiscouata,  Quebec,  and  Aroostook,  Maine). 


NEWFOUNDLAND 

Corner  Brook 

□  Community  Homophile  Association  of  New- 
foundland (CHAN),  Box  905,  A2H  6J2. 

St.  John's 

□  Community  Homophile  Association  of  New- 
foundland (CHAN),  Box  613,  Stn  C,  A1C  5K8. 


NOVA  SCOTIA 


Halifax 

□  The  Alternate  Bookshop,  1588  Barrington  St, 
2nd  fir.  Mailing  address:  Box  276,  Stn  M, 
B3J  2N7.  Ph:  (902)  423-3830. 

□  Expression,  c/o  The  Alternate  Bookshop,  Box 
267,  Stn  M,  B3J  2N7.  A  support  group  for  trans- 
vestites  and  transsexuals,  presently  in  formation. 

□  Gay  AA  meets  every  Wednesday  at  7:30  pm  at 
Hope  Cottage,  2435  Brunswick  St.  For  info  call 
(902)  422-5875  or  Gayline,  or  write  Box  3064, 
South  Station. 

□  Gay  Alliance  for  Equality  Inc  (GAE),  Box  361 1, 
Halifax  South  Postal  Stn,  B3J  3K6.  Ph: 

(902)  429-4294.  Gay  helpline  (information,  re- 
ferrals and  peer  counselling):  (902)  429-6969, 
Thurs,  Fri  and  Sat,  7-10  pm. 
Gay  Artists  Musicians  Entertainers  Society 
(GAMES)  of  Atlantic  Canada,  Box  361 1 ,  South 
Station,  B3J  3K6. 

□  Gays  and  Lesbians  at  Dalhousie  (GLAD),  c/o 
SUB  (Student  Union  Building),  Dalhousie 
University. 

□  Sparrow  of  Atlantic  Canada,  Gay  Christians, 
meet  every  Sunday  at  8  pm,  at  the  Universalis! 
Unitarian  Church,  5500  Inglis  St.  Mailing  ad- 
dress: Box  361 1,  Halifax  South  Postal  Stn, 

B3J  3K6.  Sparrow  coffeehouse:  every  Sunday  at 
The  Turret.  Call  Gayline  (429-6969)  or  GAE 
(429-4294)  or  The  Turret  (423-6814)  for  dates  and 
times. 

□  The  Turret  Gay  Community  Centre,  1588  Bar- 
rington St.  Ph:  (902)  423-6814.  Mailing  address: 
Box  361 1,  Halifax  South  Postal  Stn,  B3J  3K6. 


ONTARIO 


Georgetown 

□Georgetown  Gay  Friends,  Box  223,  L7G  4T1 . 
Ph:  (416)  877-5524. 

Guelph 

□  Goelph  Gay  Equality,  Box  773,  N1H  6L8. 
Gayline:  (519)  836-4550,  24  hrs. 

□  Guelph  Gay  Youth  Group,  Info:  (519)  836-4550. 
Mon,  Wed  and  Thurs,  8-10  pm. 


Hamilton 

□  Gay  Fathers  of  Hamilton,  offers  support,  advice, 
and  pot  luck  suppers  twice  a  month.  Call 
Gayline  for  meeting  places  and  times. 

□  Gayline  Hamilton,  information  on  all  groups  and 
activities,  and  peer  counselling.  Ph:  (416) 
523-7055  Wed  through  Sun,  7-11  pm. 

□  Gay  Monitors  Committee  of  Hamilton,  an 
educational  and  information  service  agency  of 
HUGS.  See  Hamilton  United  Gay  Societies 
(HUGS)  listing. 

□  Gay  Recreation  Committee  of  Hamilton,  a 
recreational  service  agency  of  HUGS,  sponsors 
dances,  bowling  league  and  other  events. 

□  Gay  Women  of  Hamilton,  support  group.  Call 
Gayline  for  meeting  places  and  times. 

□  Hamilton  United  Gay  Societies  (HUGS),  a 
meeting  of  men  and  women,  young  and  old,  with 
discussions  and  speakers  on  topics  of  community 
interest.  Meetings  on  alternate  Wednesdays,  Rm 
619,  Togo  Salmon  Hall,  McMaster  University, 
7:30  pm.  Call  Gayline  for  further  information. 

□  Lambda  Gay  Youth  of  Hamilton,  support  group. 
Call  Gayline  for  meeting  places  and  times. 

□  Address  for  all  Hamilton  groups  listed  above: 
Box  44,  Stn  B,  L8L  7T5. 

Kingston 

□  Queen's  Women's  Centre,  51  Queen's  Crescent, 
Queen's  University,  K7L  2S7.  Ph: 

(613)  542-5226. 

□  Queen's  Homophile  Association,  Student  Affairs 
Centre,  51  Queen's  Crescent,  Queen's  University, 
K7L  2S7.  Ph:  (613)547-2836. 

Kitchener/Waterloo 

□  Foundation  for  the  Advancement  of  Canadian 
Transsexuals  (FACT),  Box  1497,  Stn  C, 
Kitchener  N2G  4P2. 

□  Gay  AA,  Ph:  (519)  742-6183. 

□  Gay  Liberation  of  Waterloo  (GLOW),  c/o 
Federation  of  Students,  University  of  Waterloo, 
Waterloo  N2L  3G1.  Ph:  (519)  884-GLOW. 

□  Gay  News  and  Views,  radio  programme,  Tues 
and  Wed,  6:15  pm,  CKMS-FM,  94.5  MHz,  105.7 
MHz  cable. 

□  Gay  Rights  Organization  of  Waterloo,  Box  2632, 
Stn  B,  Kitchener  N2H  6N2. 

□  G.R.O.W.,  Box  2782,  Stn  B,  Kitchener 
N2H  6N3. 

□  Kitchener/ Waterloo  Gay  Media  Collective,  Box 
2741,  Stn  B,  Kitchener  N2H  6N3. 

□  Kitchener-Waterloo  Gay  Youth,  c/o  Federation 
of  Students,  University  of  Waterloo,  Waterloo 
N2L3G1. 

□  Leaping  Lesbians,  radio  programme,  Thurs,  6  to 
8  pm,  CKMS-FM,  94.5  MHz,  105.7  MHz  cable. 

□  Lesbian  Organization  of  Kitchener  (LOOK),  Box 
2531,  Stn  B,  Kitchener  N2H  6N3. 

□  Young  Men's  Athletic  Club,  Box  2041,  Stn  B, 
Kitchener.  Ph:  (519)  579-1505.  Licenced  dances 
every  two  weeks,  1st  and  3rd  Fri  of  each  month. 
Phone  for  location. 

London 

□  Foundation  for  the  Advancement  of  Canadian 
Transsexuals  (FACT),  Box  4724,  Stn  D, 
N5W  5L7.  Ph:  (519)644-1061. 

□  Gayline,  Ph:  (519)  679-6423.  Info  24  hrs/day. 
Peer  counselling  Mon,  Wed,  Fri,  Sat,  7-11  pm. 

□  Homophile  Association  of  London,  Ontario 
(HALO),  649  Colborne  St,  N6A  3Z2.  Ph:  (519) 
433-3762. 

□  Metropolitan  Community  Church,  Box  4724, 
Stn  D,  N5W  5L7.  Services  Sundays  at  7  pm  at 
Unitarian  Church,  29  Victoria  St.  Singspiration 
at  6:45  pm. 

□  Western  Gay  Association,  c/o  University  Com- 
munity Centre,  University  of  Western  Ontario. 
Ph:  (519)  679-6423. 

Mississauga/Brampton 

□  GEM:  Gay  Community  Outreach,  Box  62, 
Brampton  L6V  2K7. 

□  Gayline  West,  Ph:  (416)  274-5068.  Peer  coun- 
selling telephone  service. 

Niagara  Region 

□  Gayline,  Ph:  (416)  354-3173. 

□  Gay  Unity  Niagara,  Box  692,  Niagara  Falls 
L2E  6V5. 

North  Bay 

□  Caring  Homosexuals  Association  of  North  Bay 
(CHANB),  Box  649,  Callander  P0H  1H0. 

Ph:  (705)  472-0909. 

Ottawa 

□  Dignity/Ottawa/Dignite,  Box  2102,  Stn  D, 
KIP  5W3. 

□  Dykes  and  Fags  (Carleton  University  Gay  Peo- 
ple). For  more  information  call  (613)  238-1717. 

□  Gays  of  Ottawa/Gais  de  I'Outaouais,  Box  2919, 
Stn  D,  KIP  5W9.  GO  Centre:  175LisgarSt. 
Gayline:  (613)  238-1717.  Office:  (613)  233-0152. 

□  Gay  Youth  Ottawa   Hull  Jeunesse  Gai(e)  d'Ot- 
tawa/Hull  may  be  contacted  at  the  same  address 
and  phone  number  as  Gays  of  Ottawa. 
Meetings/drop-ins,  Wed,  8  pm,  175  LisgarSt. 

□  Integrity:  Gay  Anglicans  and  their  friends,  St 
George's  Anglican  Church,  152  Metcalfe  St, 
K2P  IN9.  Ph:  (613)  235-1636.  Meeting  and 
Eucharist  every  second  Wed  (2nd  and  4th  Weds 
of  month),  7:30  pm,  at  St  George's  Church. 

□  Lesbiennes  et  gais  du  campus/Lesbians  and  Gays 
on  Campus,  c/o  SFUO,  85  rue  Hastey  Street, 
KIN  6N5. 

□  Metropolitan  Community  Church,  Box  868,  Stn 
B,  KIP  5T1.  Ph:  (613)  235-3438. 

□  Parents  of  Gays,  Box  9094,  KIG  3T8. 


□  The  Unigenderist  Society  for  Androgyny, 
Transvestism  and  Transsexualism,  206  Laurier 
Ave  W,  No  15,  Box  4073,  Stn  E,  K1S  5B1 . 
Ph:  (613)233-5505. 

Peterborough 

□  Gays  of  Trent  and  Peterborough  (GTP),  Box 
1524,  K9J  7H7.  Office:  262  Rubidge  St,  Rm  203. 
Ph:  (705)  742-6229,  Wed,  7:30-9:30  pm,  Thurs, 
7:30-9:30  pm. 

Sarnia 

□  Gay  Alliance  of  Samia-Port  Huron  (GASP),  Box 
642,  Sarnia  N7T  7J7. 

Sudbury 

□  Gay  Association  of  Sudbury  (GAS),  Box  395, 
Stn  B,  P3E  4P6. 

Thunder  Bay 

□  Northern  Women's  Centre,  3 1 6  Bay  St,  P7B  1 S 1 . 
Ph:  (807)  345-7802. 

□  Gays  of  Thunder  Bay  (GTB),  Box  2155,  Stn  P, 
P7B  1S4.  Ph:  (807)  345-8011. 

Toronto 

□  Association  of  Gay  Electors  (AGE),  730  Bathurst 
St,  M5S  2R4. 

□  Association  of  Gays  in  the  Media  (AGM),  730 
Bathurst  St,  M5S  2R4. 

□  Association  of  Gay  Social  Services  Workers,  Box 
182,  StnO,  M4A2N3. 

□  Came  Out  Decades  Ago  (CODA),  older  lesbians 
and  gays,  Box  6248,  Stn  A,  M5W  1P6. 

□  Centre  of  Affirmation  and  Dialogue,  St  Philip 
House,  507  Queen  St  E,  M5A  1V1.  Ph: 
(416)362-2662.  Meetings  at  7:30  pm.  Parents  of 
Gays:  Mondays;  Married  Gay  Men:  1st  and  3rd 
Weds  of  month;  Gay  Couples:  2nd  and  4th  Weds 
of  month;  Senior  lesbians  and  gays  over  40:  1st 
and  3rd  Thurs  of  month. 

□  Dignity  for  Gay  and  Lesbian  Catholics,  Box  249, 
Stn  E,  M6H  4E2.  Ph:  (416)  960-3997. 

□  Families  and  Friends  of  Lesbians  and  Gays 
(FFLAG),  730  Bathurst  St,  M5S  2R4. 

□  Foundation  for  the  Advancement  of  Canadian 
Transsexuals  (FACT),  c/o  Miss  S  C  Huxford, 
Box  281,  Stn  A,  Rexdale,  M9W  5L3. 

Ph:  (416)  741-7223. 
□FYI  (For  Your  Information),  non-profit  infor- 
mation service  for  the  gay  community,  free  for 
subscribers.  Box  2212,  Stn  P,  M5S  2T2.  Office 
hours  7-9  pm,  Tues  and  Thurs.  Ph:  (416)  869-3036. 

□  Gay  Academic  Union,  c/o  Clarence  Barnes,  Dept 
of  Chemical  Engineering,  Univ  of  Toronto, 
M5S  1A4. 

□  Gay  Alcoholics  Anonymous,  answering  service, 
Ph:  (416)  964-3962. 

□  Gay  Alliance  at  York,  c/o  CYSF  office,  105  Cen- 
tral Square,  York  University,  4700  Keele  Street, 
Downsview,  M3J  1P3.  Meetings /coffeehouses 
7-10  pm,  Rm  305,  Founders  College. 

Ph:  (416)  667-3509  or  667-3632. 

□  Gay  Anarchists,  c/o  Ian  Young,  315  Blantyre 
Ave,  Scarborough,  M1N  2S6. 

□  Gay  Asians  Toronto,  Drawer  R999,  TBP,  Box 
7289,  Stn  A,  M5W  1X9. 

□  Gay  Community  Appeal  of  Toronto,  Box  2212, 
Stn  P,  M5S  2T2.  Ph:  (416)  869-3036. 

□  Gay  Community  Calendar.  Ph:  (416)  923-GAYS, 
24-hour  recorded  message. 

□  Gay  Community  Services  Centre,  730  Bathurst 
St,  M5S  2R4.  Telephone  counselling  and  infor- 
mation Mon-Thurs  7-10:30  pm,  Fri  and  Sat  7-11 
pm.  Ph:  (416)  532-1826. 

□Gay  Fathers  of  Toronto,  c/o  MCC,  730  Bathurst 
St,  M5S  2R4.  Ph:  (416)  532-2333.  Offers  sup- 
port, advice,  and  dinner  twice  a  month. 

□  Gay  Liberation  Union  (GLU),  Box  793,  Stn  Q, 
M4T  2N7.  Ph:  (416)  363-4410. 

□  Gay  Youth  Toronto,  730  Bathurst  St,  M5S  2R4. 
Ph:  (416)  533-2867.  Telephone  peer  counselling 
service,  Mon,  Fri  and  Sat,  7-10:30  pm.  Meetings 
at  the  519  Church  St  Community  Centre,  Tues, 
7:30  pm. 

□  Gays  and  Lesbians  Against  the  Right  Everywhere 
(GLARE),  Box  793,  Stn  Q,  M4T  2N7. 

□  Gays  at  U  of  T,  c/o  SAC  office,  12  Hart  House 
Circle,  University  of  Toronto,  M5S  IA1.  Meets 
Fri,  7:30  pm,  33  St  George  St. 

□  Glad  Day  Bookstore,  648A  Yonge  St,  M5Y  2A6. 
Ph:  (416)  961-4161. 

□  Hassle  Free  Clinic,  556  Church  St,  (at  Wellesley), 
2nd  floor.  VD  testing  and  information.  Women's 
clinic,  Ph:  (416)  922-0566.  Men's  clinic, 

Ph:  (416)  922-0603.  Call  ahead. 

□  Integrity:  Gay  Anglicans  and  their  friends,  Box 
873,  Stn  F,  M4Y  2N9.  Ph:  (416)  921-4778. 
Meeting  with  Eucharist  on  2nd  Tuesday  of  month 
at  8  pm,  and  meeting  with  Evensong  on  4th 
Tuesday  of  month  at  8  pm,  at  Holy  Trinity 
Church,  Toronto  Eaton  Centre. 

□  Lesbian  Mothers'  Defence  Fund,  Box  38,  Stn  E, 
M6H  4EI.  Ph:  (416)  465-6822. 

□  Lesbian  Organization  of  Toronto  (LOOT), 
Box  70,  Stn  F,  M4Y  2L4. 

□  Metropolitan  Community  Church,  offices  730 
Bathurst  St,  M5S  2R4.  Ph:  (416)  532-2333. 
Regular  Sunday  services:  dinner  at  6  pm, 
singspiration  at  7:10  pm,  worship  at  7:30  pm,  and 
fellowship  hour  following.  Regular  midweek 
services  Wed,  8  pm. 

□  Osgoode  Gay  Caucus,  c/o  Osgoode  Hall  Law 
School,  4700  Keele  Street,  Downsview, 

M3J  2R5.  Same  regular  meetings  as  Gay  Alliance 
at  York.  Ph:  (416)  661-2244. 

□  Parents  of  Gays,  c/o  730  Bathurst  St,  M5S  2R4. 
Ph:  (416)  532-2333  or  961-3415. 

□  Pink  Triangle  Press,  Box  639,  Stn  A,  M5W  1G2. 
Ph:  (416)  977-6320. 

□  Right  to  Privacy  Committee  (defence  committee 
for  The  Barracks  accused),  meets  2nd  Mon  each 
month,  8  pm,  519  Church  St.  Mailing  address: 


407THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


730  Bathurst  St.  M5S  2R4.  Donations:  Make 

payable  to  John  Higgins  in  Trust.  Mail  to 

Hallman  and  Higgins,  Barristers  and  Solicitors, 

85  Richmond  St  W,  Suite  620,  M5H  2C9. 
DRyerson  Gay  Students,  c/o  SURPI,  Ryerson 

Polytechnical  Institute,  380  Victoria  St, 

MSB  I W7.  Meetings  Fri,  6  pm. 
i    Toronto  Area  Gays  (TAG),  Box  6706,  Stn  A, 

M5W  1X5.  Ph:  (416)  964-6600.  Peer  counselling 

and  information  services  for  lesbians  and  gay 

men. 
[  Toronto  Lambda  Business  Council, Box  513, 

Adelaide  St  Stn,  M5C  2J6. 
i    Toronto  Organization  of  United  Church 

Homosexuals  (TOUCH),  Box  249,  Stn  E, 

M6H  4E2. 
DToronto  Women's  Bookstore,  85  Harbord  St, 

M5S  IG5.  Ph:  (416)  922-8744. 
T  ]Tri-Aid  Charitable  Foundation,  8  Irwin  Ave, 

M4Y  1K9.  Ph:  (416)  924-2525. 
H  Wages  Due  Lesbians,  Box  38,  Stn  E,  M6G  4E1. 

Ph:  (416)465-6822. 
[jWomen's  Archives,  Box  928,  Stn  Q,  M4T  2P1. 

Windsor 

DGay  AA.  Ph:  (519)258-7967. 
Lesbian  and  Gay  Students  on  Campus  (LGSC), 

c/o  Students'  Activities  Council,  Univ  of 

Windsor.  Ph:  (519)  252-0979.  Rap  sessions 

weekly. 

Windsor  Gay  Unity,  Box  7002,  Sandwich  Postal 

Stn,  N9C  3Y6.  Gayline:  (519)  252-0979.  Gayline 

is  answered  by  a  woman  Tuesdays  7-10  pm. 


QUEBEC 


Charlevoix 

Association  pour  les  droits  des  gais  de  Charlevoix 
(ADGC),  CP  724,  Clermont,  Comte  de 
Charlevoix,  GOT  1C0. 

Hull 

'.  Association  Gaie  de  I'Ouest  Quebecois  ( AGOQ), 

CP  1215,  Succ  B,  J8X  3X7.  Ph:  (819)  778-1737. 

Lennoxville 

GGay  students'  Alliance  (GSA),  Box  631,  Bishop's 
University/Champlain  Regional  College, 
JIM  1Z7. 

Montreal 

Aide  au\  travesties  et  transsexuelles  du  Quebec, 
CP  36<%ucc  C,  H2L  4K3.  Ph:  (514)  521-9302. 
Alpha  Kira  Fraternity,  CP  153,  Succ  Victoria, 
H3Z  2V5. 

Association  communautaire  homosexuelle  de 
I'Universite  de  Montreal,  3200,  Jean-Brillant, 
Local  1267,  Pav  Lionel  Groulx  des  sciences 
sociales,  Universite  de  Montreal,  H3T  1N8. 
Pit:  (514)  737-0553.  Office  hours:  Mon  12-3  pm, 
Wed  7-11  pm  in  room  1 279  of  the  same  building. 

DAssociation  des  bonnes  gens  sourds,  CP  764, 
SuccS,  H2S2B1. 

DAssociation  pour  les  droits  de  la  communaute 
gaie  du  Quebec  (ADGQ),  CP  36,  Succ  C, 
H2L  4J7.  Bureau:  263  est  rue  Sainte-Catherine, 
2eetage.  Ph:(5l4)  843-8671. 
Comite  d'auto-defense  gai,  a/s  ADGQ  ou 
Librarie  L' Androgyne.  Ph:  (514)  843-8671  ou 
866-2131. 

Comite  de  soutien  aux  accuses  de  Truxx,  a/s  1217 
rue  Crescent,  H3G  2BI.  Ph:  (514)  866-2131. 
(  ommunaute  homophile  chretienne  (Catholic), 
354,  rue  Murray.  Ph:  (514)688-9071. 
Contacl-t-nous,  gay  VD  service,  information  and 
referral.  Ph:  (514)  842-5807. 
(  oop-Femmes,  CP  223,  Succ  Delorimier, 
H2H  2N6.  Ph:  (514)  843-8998. 
Dignity   Montreal,  Newman  Centre,  3484  rue 
Peel,  H3A  IW8.  Ph:  (514)  392-6741. 
Eglite  (  ommunaulaire  de  Montreal,  Montreal 
Community  Church,  CP  610,  Succ  NDG, 
H4A  3RI.  Ph:  (514)  845-4471. 
Federation  canadienne  des  transsexuels,  16  rue 
Viau,  Vaudreuil  J7V  IA7. 
Fraternite-Halte  Inc.  5342  boul  Saint-Laurent, 
H2T  1  SI .  Ph:(514)  521-5360. 
Gaiecoute,  ligne  telephonique  pour 
francophones.  I900h  -  2300h  tous  les  soirs. 
Ph:  (514)937-1447. 

(.a>  Health  Clinic.  Montreal  Youth  C  linic/Clin- 
iquc  des  Jeunes  de  Montreal,  3658  rue  Sainte- 
Famillc,  H2X  21.5.  Ph:  (514)  843-7885,  843-5255, 
Mon,  Wed  and  Fri  evenings. 
Ga>  Info.  (  P6I0,  Succ  NDG,  H4A  3R1.  Ph: 
<M4)4K6 -4404.  I  hurs  and  Fri,      7-11  pm. 
24-hr  recorded  message  at  olher.times. 
Gayline,  (514)  931-8668  or  931-5330,  7  days  a 
week,  7-1 1  pm. 

Gay  Men  and  Women  of  McCill,  University  Cen- 
tre. Rm408.  3480  rue  McTamh.  H3A  1X9. 
Meet!  Thurs.  7:30  pm,  Rm  425. 
(,a»  social  Service!  Project,  5  rue  Wcredale 
Park,  Wcstmouni  H3Z  IY5.  Ph:  (514)  937-9581. 
Gay  \,  outh  (.roup,  open  to  gay  males  14-22, 
meets  Saturdays  2-4  pm.  call  Gayline  tor  info. 
Integrity:  Ga>  Anglicans  and  their  friends,  C/O 

JOS  avenue  Willibrord,  Verdun  H40  :i"  Ph 
(314)  766-9623 

I  vvhian  and  Gay  Friends  of  Concordia.  I4<S 

oucst  boul  de  Maisonneuve,  H3G  IM7  Ph 
(S|4)  K?y  4Siki  from 9 ant  to  J  pm 
Llbralrie I' Androgyne  Androgyny  Bookstore, 
1217  rue  Crescent,  H3G  2BI    Ph  (514)866-2131 

I  ie.ur  I  amhda  Inc.  (  P  701,  Sun  S    . 

Info  (514)  M4»  skk<*.  Alain  ou  lacqnes. 

Nachrv  Montreal's  Gas  Jrwish  (.roup.  (   P 

Kg    Ph    (M4|  4M 
Older  (,a>\  (.roup,  meets  1st  and  3rd  Wed  each 

month,  .ii  i  me  Wcredale  Park,  Weitmoum 
in/  IYJ   Ph  (314)  937  9581. exl  2iH.  t,„  Info 

Ask  lut  II  i 


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42/THE  BODY  POLITIC 


MARCH  1981 


TheBackPage 

From  the  grocery  store  to  the  disco  floor, 

nobody's  going  to  tell  you  how  to  do  it.  Jeff  Richardson  on 

Fear  of  cruising 


In  a  Toronto  gay  bar  recently,  a 
friend  of  mine  was  approached  by 
a  man  who,  obviously  living  by  the 
dictum  of  nothing-new-under-the- 
sun,  unabashedly  asked,  "What's  a 
guy  like  you  doing  in  a  place  like  this?" 
My  friend,  subscribing  to  the  belief  that 
nothing  clears  the  air  and  confutes  the 
cliched  mind  as  readily  as  honesty, 
replied,  "I'm  here  to  improve  my  com- 
munication skills."  And  miles  to  go 
before  I  sleep,  I  quietly  intoned  to 
myself,  not  as  a  comment  on  my 
friend's  skills  but  on  my  own. 

I'm  not,  I  confess,  very  good  at 
cruising.  Through  some  reprehensible 
negligence,  none  of  the  schools  I 
attended  offered  courses  on  the  subject. 
Guidebooks  abound  listing  the  great 
cruising  spots  from  Peterborough  to 
Xanipateptl,  but  none  of  them  seems  to 
tell  me  just  what  to  do  once  I'm  inside 
Jose's  Honcho  Haven.  The  assumption, 
I  guess,  is  that  we're  all  born  with  an 
innate  understanding  of  cruising  tech- 
nique. It's  true  that  as  a  newborn  lying 
in  my  hospital  crib,  I  did  make  direct 
eye  contact  with  the  doctor.  But  you 
know  what  came  of  that?  He  circum- 
cised me. 

My  subsequent  cruising  episodes  have 
been  equally  distressing.  Let  me  give 
you  a  typical  example.  One  evening  I 
went  into  my  local  grocery  store  to  pick 
up  some  milk.  As  I  was  passing  the 
soups,  I  stopped  dead  in  my  tracks  at 
the  sight  of  a  gorgeous  guy  nearing  me. 
He  too  stopped  and  began  to  peruse  the 
pickles  on  the  shelf  in  front  of  him.  My 
heart  was  pounding  so  fast  my  keys 
were  jangling.  What  do  I  say?  What  do 
I  do?  Even  Erica  Jong  didn't  tell  how  to 
get  it.  For  moments  that  seemed  like 
eras,  I  stood  transfixed  by  the  tins  of 
soup.  Somewhere  in  the  "Chunky  Man- 
handlers"  there  had  to  be  a  sign!  Sud- 
denly the  guy  glanced  over  at  me  and, 
with  just  the  trace  of  a  seductive  smile, 
lifted  a  jar  of  Polski  Ogorki  from  the 
shelf.  My  God,  I  gasped  inwardly,  look 
at  the  size  of  those  things!  It  was  too 
much  for  me.  Trembling,  I  stumbled 
away  from  him  toward  the  comfort  of 
the  produce  section.  "Spinach,"  I 
muttered,  "I've  got  to  eat  more 
spinach." 

For  most  of  my  sexual  career,  I  have 
dealt  with  my  inability  to  cruise  in  the 
same  way  I  approach  most  other  prob- 
lems: irrationally.  When  in  doubt,  deny, 
distort  or  ignore.  A  thousand  roles  I 
could  play,  each  designed  to  obscure  the 
one  basic  truth:  I  wasn't  getting  it. 

The  scenario  usually  ran  something 
like  this.  It's  evening.  Alone  in  my  liv- 
ing room  I'm  craving  to  go  out.  "No," 
I  argue  with  myself,  "remember  your 
resolve!"  I  close  my  eyes  and  tap  the 
heels  of  my  ruby  slippers  together  three 
times.  "There's  no  place  like  home... 
there's  no  place  like...  like..."  Doubt 
shuffles  in.  "I  could  cruise  if  I  really 
wanted  to,"  my  mind  bluffs  defensive- 
ly, "but  I  just  don't  want  to,  so  there." 
(I  stick  out  my  tongue  to  add  extra  con- 
viction.) I  puff  myself  up,  listing  all  the 
tremendously  significant  things  I  ought 
to  do  instead  (take  a  nap,  watch  Dallas, 


buy  a  dog).  Friends,  I  tell  myself,  are  so 
much  more  meaningful  to  my  life  than 
anything  cruising  could  bring  —  until  I 
discover  that  all  my  friends  are  out 
cruising. 

Needing  to  bolster  my  resolve,  I  reach 
for  a  book  on  my  shelf:  William 
Thackeray's  Pendennis.  If  anything  can 
keep  me  home,  this  great  satire  on  the 
foibles  of  passion  will.  Quickly  I  turn  to 
my  favourite  passage.  There  I  read  of  a 
young  man  madly  in  love  with  a  lady 
who,  enamoured  of  another,  barely 
knows  this  man  exists.  For  weeks  he 
roams  about  London,  exhausting  him- 
self in  the  effort  to  get  just  one  more 
glimpse  of  her.  Finally,  standing  on  an 
embankment  in  a  park,  he  catches  sight 
of  her  riding  in  the  distance.  "Ahhh," 
he  swoons  in  triumphant  glory.  "But 
what,"  interjects  the  narrator  sar- 
castically, "is  the  earthly  good  of  look- 
ing at  a  girl  in  a  pink  bonnet  across  a 
ditch?"  Exactly,  WT,  you  said  it.  "And 
what,"  I  deduce  for  myself,  "is  the 
earthly  good  of  looking  at  a  muscled 
number  in  skin-tight  jeans  across  a 
dance  floor?" 

The  analogy  somehow  fails,  and  with- 
in an  hour  I'm  ogling  pink  bonnets 
across  some  ditch  of  a  disco.  Now  that 
I'm  out  in  the  midst  of  the  scene,  my 
ineptness  presses  upon  me.  My  knees 
begin  to  buckle;  streams  of  sweat  stain 
the  name  of  Calvin  Klein.  There's  only 
one  escape,  I  decide:  cynicism!  Swiftly  I 
scramble  high  atop  my  aristocratic  nose 
to  peer  knowingly  and  mockingly  down 
at  this  strange  breed  of  Sassooned  and 
Coppertoned  lemmings.  I  sneer,  I  slan- 


der, I  survive.  Someone  complains  that 
the  bars  are  too  unfriendly  and  that 
Toronto  gays  are  too  uptight,  but  I 
don't  even  deign  to  express  my  agree- 
ment. To  turn  a  cold  eye  on  all  the 
uptight,  unfriendly  coolness  is  not  only 
acceptable,  somehow  it's  de  rigueur. 
Frigid  is  hotter  than  cool.  And  I  —  see- 
ing through  it  all  and  scorning  it  all  — 
wouldn't  miss  a  night. 

On  my  way  home,  alone,  the  cynicism 
subsides  and  I  quiver  for  a  moment  in 
the  throes  of  self-pity.  I  invoke  the  spirit 
of  Sylvia  Plath.  "Death  by  fire  or  by 
drowning?"  I  debate.  The  storefronts 
the  lamplights,  the  freezing  shadowed 
streets  play  film  noir  backdrop  to  my 
angst-ridden  Outsider.  Long  as  I  might 
to  cruise  and  be  cruised,  I  will  always  be 
alone.  Half  an  hour  later,  in  bed,  my 
snoring  brings  down  the  curtain  on  this 
existential  melodrama. 

It  was  the  language  of  cruising  I 
couldn't  understand.  I  was  nostalgic  for 
what  I  supposed  was  the  simplicity  of 
words.  "What's  a  nice  guy  like  you 
doing  in  a  place  like  this?"  may  at  best 
be  an  uninspired  line,  but  I  could  under- 
stand it  and  respond  to  it.  But  keys  and 
scarves,  poppers  and  pinky-rings  — 
these  were  mysterious  symbols  I  was 
unable  and  unwilling  to  decode.  It  was 
so  much  easier  to  play  stranger  in  a 
foreign  land  than  to  interpret  the 
language. 

But  finally  a  quotation  from  Balzac 
struck  home  with  me.  He  had  written  of 
a  princess  that  "She  was  learned  and 
she  knew  that  the  amourous  character 
has  its  signs  in  what  are  taken  for  trifles. 


A  knowledgeable  woman  can  read  her 
future  in  a  simple  gesture."  Alright,  I 
vowed,  I  would  learn,  I  too  would  be 
knowledgeable.  If  no  one  would  teach 
me,  I  would  teach  myself.  (God  knows, 
I'd  been  a  "self-made"  man  for  some 
time  already.) 

So  the  crash  course  was  on.  Assid- 
uously I  studied  —  on  the  streets,  in  the 
bars  and  restaurants,  taking  notes,  com- 
piling lists  of  gestures,  postures,  attire, 
strategies.  Finally  I  felt  I  had  it  all 
together.  I  was  ready  for  anything. 

In  a  bar  one  night,  a  fabulous  speci- 
men stared  in  my  direction.  I  glanced 
quickly  about.  No  one  stood  near,  so  he 
had  to  be  looking  at  me.  Summoning  up 
all  my  cool  courage,  I  stared  back.  He 
intensified  his  gaze  —  I  did  the  same.  I 
took  in  the  keys  dangling  from  his  belt 
loop,  I  noted  the  angle  of  his  trucker's 
hat,  I  counted  the  squares  on  his  plaid 
shirt:  each  a  propitious  omen.  He 
glanced  away,  then  turned  back  to  me, 
raising  his  eyebrows  far  into  his  fore- 
head. I  —  so  suave,  so  sure  —  raised 
mine.  He  winked.  I  winked.  With  such 
heavy  eye-contact,  I  could  feel  an 
epiphany  approaching. 

Then  he  put  his  hand  in  front  of  one 
eye.  This,  I  thought,  is  a  signal  I've 
never  seen  before.  It  must  be  reserved 
for  something  very  hot.  Should  I  also 
raise  my  hand?  As  I  pondered  this  ex- 
pectantly, he  suddenly  lifted  the  other 
hand  to  his  eye  and  blinked  at  me  mean- 
ingfully several  times. 

Then,  carefully,  he  extracted  a  con- 
tact lens. 

Nice  pickles,  eh?D 


<E1     ^ 


MARCH  1981 


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